COLUMBUS - The third-ranked Columbus State University women's tennis team grabbed its first ranked win of the year after defeating No. 24 West Alabama 6-1 Sunday afternoon. The match took place at the John W. Walden Tennis Complex at Cooper Creek in Columbus.

En route to their fifth straight win, the Lady Cougars (5-1) earned the doubles point by sweeping all three positions. In the top match, Neila Trklja and Kristina Baran dropped just two games in a 6-2 victory. Candice Paya and Beatriz Lopez continued their good work on the season with a 6-1 win at second doubles while Amanda Citre and Luise Sachs swept three doubles 6-0.

CSU won five of the six singles matches, including a three-set thriller at the top spot. Tenth-ranked Sachs lost the first set 6-3 to Haina Franco before storming back to win a tight 7-5 second set. In the decisive third, Sachs won the tiebreak 10-7 to take down the 16^th-ranked player in the South Region. 

The Lady Cougars rolled at the second, third, and fourth spots. No. 21 Paya (6-3, 6-2, second), No. 17 Lopez (6-1, 6-2, third), and Trklja (6-4, 6-3, fourth) all made quick work of their opponents. At sixth singles, freshman Bigotti took the first set 7-6 before blanking Morgan Bishop 6-0 in the second to record the victory.

West Alabama's (1-3) lone victory came at fifth singles where Hardija Vidnere defeated Baran in three-sets 6-3, 5-7, 10-7.

Columbus State will now prepare for the inaugural Division II ITA National Indoors Championship in Oklahoma City. The three-day tournament will begin on Friday, Feb. 28 with CSU taking on No. 9 Central Oklahoma in the opening round. The event is being hosted at the Oak Tree Country Club.