TUSKEGEE, Ala. — The Tuskegee men's and women's tennis teams opened their home schedules Friday afternoon at the PepsiCo Tennis Courts, turning in competitive performances against Tusculum in a doubleheader matchup.
Tuskegee 5, Tusculum 2
On the women's side, Tuskegee secured a 5-2 victory, highlighted by strong singles play and depth across the lineup.
The Golden Tigers claimed two of three doubles points to take early momentum, with the pairing of Vania Dotse Ayawavi and
Leiloni Payton earning a convincing win at No. 1 doubles, while
Gabrielle Blanks and Serena Pascaline Adjowa-Sika added another doubles victory at the No. 2 position.
Tuskegee carried that momentum into singles play, winning four of six matches to clinch the team victory.
Dotse Ayawavi delivered a straight-sets win at No. 1 singles, setting the tone at the top of the lineup. Payton followed with a three-set victory at No. 2 singles, rallying after dropping the opening set.
Asia McRae and
Dayna Jackson also contributed key wins in singles action, while Blanks and
Taylor Ford closed out the afternoon with strong performances in the lower part of the lineup.
Tusculum 6, Tuskegee 1
On the men's side, Tuskegee battled but ultimately fell 6-1 to Tusculum in a tightly contested match that featured several close doubles and singles results.
The Golden Tigers picked up their lone team point in doubles, as
Shane Tapera and
Emmanuel Wettey earned a decisive win at the No. 3 doubles position.
In singles play,
Thompson Thomu turned in a solid showing at the top of the lineup, earning a straight-sets victory at No. 1 singles.
Several other matches featured competitive sets and momentum swings, with Tuskegee pushing Tusculum across multiple courts despite the final score.
How to Follow the Golden Tigers: For complete information on Tuskegee Golden Tigers Athletics, visit
GoldenTigerSports.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
