NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Prairie View A&M women's tennis team advances to the 2022 SWAC Championship finals, after defeating 2021 SWAC defending champions Alabama State 4-3 in the semi-finals Saturday morning.
 
The Lady Panthers got the first point of the day, winning in the Nos. 1 and 2 doubles spots to take the doubles points.  Victoria Castillo/Mahogani Green (PV) def. Lizaveta Demchenko/Ana Tarbujaru (ALST) 6-2, and Gabrielle Leslie/Jada Hill (PV) def. Urska Velec/Bea Acena (ALST) 7-5.
 
In singles, the teams battled it out, and it came down to the top of the lineup.  Alabama State's Bea Acena defeated Salma Villalobos for their first point of the day 6-0, 6-2 at the No. 6 to tie up the match, 1-1.  Urska Velec from Alabama State earned the second point with a win over Victoria Castillo at the No. 2 spot to take a
 2-1 lead with the score of 6-3, 6-1.
 
Alabama State also won at the No. 3 spot to take a 3-1 lead, but both Ruju Chauhan and Claudia Medina would win to tie the match up with the scores of 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 for Chauhan and for Medina the scores were 6-3, 3-6 and 6-2.
 
It was all up to the Leslie the SWAC Freshman of the Year at the No. 1 spot, who clinched the win for the Lady Panthers with a the scores of 3-6, 6-4 and 7-5 to take the ladies into the championship game on Sunday, April 24 in New Orleans, La.
 
Results:

 Prairie View AM 4, Alabama State 3 Singles competition
1. Gabrielle Leslie (PVAMW) def. Sahra Bouchaala (ALSTW) 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
2. Urska Velec (ALSTW) def. Victoria Castillo (PVAMW) 6-3, 6-1
3. Lizaveta Demchenko (ALSTW) def. Jada Hill (PVAMW) 5-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4
4. Ruju Chauhan (PVAMW) def. Francesca Duca (ALSTW) 7-5 (7-5), 6-3, 6-4
5. Claudia Medina (PVAMW) def. Timothee Legaud (ALSTW) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
6. Bea Acena (ALSTW) def. Salma Villalobos (PVAMW) 6-0, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Victoria Castillo/Mahogani Green (PVAMW) def. Lizaveta Demchenko/Ana Tarbujaru (ALSTW) 6-2
2. Gabrielle Leslie/Jada Hill (PVAMW) def. Urska Velec/Bea Acena (ALSTW) 7-5
3. Sahra Bouchaala/Timothee Legaud (ALSTW) def. Ruju Chauhan/Salma Villalobos (PVAMW) 6-1 Match
 
Match Notes:
Prairie View AM (#3 Seed) Alabama State (#2 Seed)
Order of finish: Doubles (3, 1, 2); Singles (6,2,3,4,5,1)
 
                                                                                                                              
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