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By: Josh Fuller

AIKEN, S.C. – Playing its second in match in as many days, the eighth-ranked Columbus State University women's tennis team defeated USC Aiken 6-3 Sunday in a Peach Belt Conference match. All the action took place at the USC Aiken Tennis Complex in Aiken, S.C.

CSU moved to a perfect 3-0 to start PBC play. Overall, the Lady Cougars are 5-1. USC Aiken is now 5-2 and 1-1 inside the PBC.

Columbus State continued to play dominant in doubles sweeping all three matches. At the top spot, the 11^th-ranked team of Camila Tobar and Kirsa Utech dropped just two games in an 8-2 win over Nadine Tusiama and Olivera Veskovac.  Second doubles was tight, but in the end Beatriz Leon and Giorgia Vitale edged by Marie Habiyaremye and Sarah Bernos 8-6. Rachael Williams and Olivera Tadijin teamed up to defeat Kayla Calvert and Victoria Giannaccini 8-4.

USC Aiken played well in singles action as the two teams split the six matches. The Pacers got a win at first singles when 14^th-ranked Leon retired in the second set. Tusiama won the first set 6-2. USCA also won fifth and sixth singles. Fifth singles was the tightest match of the day as Habiyaremye and Williams played in a three-set thriller. Williams dropped the first set 7-6, but stayed alive with a 7-5 win in set two. However, Habiyaremye took the third set 10-5 for the USCA win. Bernos recorded the third win for the Pacers defeating Vitale 6-2, 6-1.

Second, third and fourth singles all went to Columbus State. Tobar was victorious at the second spot winning 6-3, 7-5 over Veskovac, while 50^th-ranked Utech breezed by Calvert 6-1, 6-1 at third singles. Tadijin picked up the final CSU victory at fourth singles winning 6-4, 6-3 against Giannaccini.

Columbus State has a busy week ahead playing four matches in five days. CSU first faces off against Emory on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 3:30 p.m. in Atlanta. Emory is ranked second in the nation in Division III.

Singles

1. Nadine Tusiama (USCA) def. #14 Beatriz Leon (CSU) 6-2, 2-1 ret.
2. Camila Tobar (CSU) def. Olivera Veskovac (USCA) 6-3, 7-5
3. #50 Kirsa Utech (CSU) def. Kayla Calvert (USCA) 6-1, 6-1
4. Olivera Tadijin (CSU) def. Victoria Giannaccini (USCA) 6-4, 6-3
5. Marie Habiyaremye (USCA) def. Rachael Williams (CSU) 6-7, 7-5, 10-5
6. Sarah Bernos (USCA) def. Giorgia Vitale (CSU) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles

1. #11 Tobar/Utech (CSU) def. Tusiama/Veskovac (USCA) 8-2
2. Leon/Vitale (CSU) def. Habiyaremye/Bernos (USCA) 8-6
3. Williams/Tadijin (CSU) def. Calvert/ Giannaccini (USCA) 8-4