COLUMBUS - The No. 7 Columbus State University women's tennis team began an important weekend with a tight 4-3 win over No. 20 Auburn University at Montgomery on Friday in the team's home opener at the John W. Walden Tennis Center.

Playing its first match in over a week, CSU (2-0) didn't show signs of rust in doubles play, winning all three matches to gain the first point of the day. No. 16 Mariana Ramirez and Valentina Abrile grabbed a 6-3 win in the top spot, while the teams of Neila Trklja and Agostina Bigotti and Yelena Labat and Sara Ramirez Goncalves both took their matches 6-4.

AUM (2-1) made things interesting in doubles play by taking second and sixth singles to even the score at two. CSU's first point in singles play came from Labat at the fourth spot as she won 6-4, 6-1 over Nahia Izco.

The Warhawks went ahead after Alba De La Torre defeated Luciana Galves 6-3, 6-2, putting all the pressure on Abrile and Ramirez for the Lady Cougars. The two delivered for CSU, both hanging on for straight-set victories to secure the match win for Columbus State. Abrile took first singles 7-5, 6-4, while Ramirez took the clincher 6-4, 7-3 at third singles.

UP NEXT
Columbus State will have a top-10 showdown on Saturday as No. 5 University of West Alabama visits the John W. Walden Tennis Center. First serve is at 2 p.m.

RESULTS
Singles
1. Valentina Abrile (CSU) def. Sofia Navarro (AUM) - 7-5, 6-4
2. Estefania Garcia (AUM) def. Neila Trklja (CSU) - 6-2, 6-4 
3. #25 Mariana Ramirez (CSU) def. Ana Villalvazo (AUM) - 6-4, 7-6 (3-0)
4. Yelena Labat (CSU) def. Nahia Izco (AUM) - 6-4, 6-1
5. Alba De La Torre (AUM) def. Luciana Galves (CSU) - 6-3, 6-2
6. Ane Ibarra (AUM) def. Sara Ramirez Goncalves (CSU) - 1-6, 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
1. #16 Ramirez/Abrile (CSU) def. Navarro/Garcia (AUM) - 6-3
2. Trklja/Bigotti (CSU) def. Lee-Alessandra Mazze/Ibarra (AUM) - 6-4
3. Labat/Ramirez Goncalves (CSU) def. Izco/De La Torre (AUM) - 6-4