TROY, Ala. – This past weekend the USC Upstate women's tennis team traveled down to Alabama to battle both Troy and North Alabama in back-to-back matches, the Spartans fell 5-2 to North Alabama on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday the Spartans were rained out.
 
"I could not be more proud of how these girls came out and fought considering what they have gone through in the past few days," USC Upstate assistant tennis coach Michael Graham said. "They showed heart all the way up until the end of the last match."
 
The Spartans fell behind 1-0 after losing the doubles point on both court No. 1 and No. 3. In singles action the Spartans stayed competitive with North Alabama. Elin Hellberg won the opening set at the No. 1 singles flight 6-1, while Morgan Valentine picked up her first win a Spartan uniform at the No. 4 singles position. Hellberg faltered in the final two sets, but Maria Jardim picked up her first singles win of the season at the No. 3 singles flight.
 
Gabriela Cevallos was just two games away from forcing a third set at the No. 2 singles flight and both Roberta Armani and Laura Illanes competed in a pair of straight set losses.
 
UP next for the Spartans
 The Spartans will play their home opener this coming Saturday against North Greenville University at 11:00 a.m.

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