WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – University of South Alabama junior Alexandria Stiteler fell in the first round of the NCAA Women's Tennis Singles Championship Wednesday afternoon at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex.
The Bradenton, Fla. native, ranked No. 110 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, lost 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-2 to No. 52 Josie Kuhlman of Florida.
THE MATCH
-Stiteler jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first set after breaking Kuhlman in game three
-With Kuhlman serving down 5-2, Stiteler had a set point, but Kuhlman was able to recover and stay alive
-Kuhlman broke Stiteler in the next game to get back on serve, and Kuhlman held to even the set at 5-5
-Stiteler went up 6-5 and had another set point in the next game on Kuhlman's serve, but was unable to close the deal and eventually lost the set in a tiebreaker
-Set two was marked by five straight broken service games; Stiteler got the last one to take a 4-3 lead, held serve to go up 5-3, and eventually closed out the set 6-4
-Stiteler was broken twice in the first four games of the third set, and trailed 4-1 after a Kuhlman service game
-The two competitors stayed on serve the next two games, but Kuhlman broke Stiteler to clinch the match
NOTES
-Stiteler ends the season with a 21-8 overall record
-Stiteler is the school's record holder in career win percentage at No.