ATLANTA — Alabama A&M’s Alicia Owegi won the Women’s B Flight during the 24th annual HBCU National Tennis Championships at the South Fulton Tennis Center.
Owegi won five matches on her way to winning the individual crown as the Alabama A&M University women’s tennis team fell just short on repeating as HBCU National Champions. The Bulldogs finished second in the weekend tournament.
Owegi opened the flight with a Round of 32 6-4, 6-3 win over Tennessee State’s Jovana Nikolic and beat Melisa Mekic, of Alabama State, 6-2, 6-1, to advance to the quarterfinals. She knocked off Jackson State’s Helen Hernandez, 6-3, 7-5 and beat teammate Nardine Salem, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the finals. In the championship match, Owegi rallied to defeat Cleanne Pickel, of Alabama State, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.
Salem reached the quarterfinals by defeating Natalie Walsh (Tennessee State), 6-3, 6-1, and Dana Hall (Howard), 6-2, 2-6 (10-3).
Also in the B Flight, Sofia Sotelo Raya opened with a 2-6, 6-2 (10-6) win over Valeria Orega (Xavier, La.) and beat Victoria Cooksey (Tennessee State), 6-1, 6-1, to advance to the quarterfinals. She topped Camille Hall (Howard), 6-2, 6-3, before dropping a 2-6, 6-2 (10-5) decision in the semifinals to Pickel.
In the A Flight, Gabrielle Henderson opened with a 6-2, 4-6 (10-6) win over McKenna Wheatley (Xavier, La.), before falling in the quarterfinals to Franchesca Brown (Howard), 6-4, 6-2.
In the C Flight, Lavynia Sa fell in the Round of 32 to Jackson State’s Daniela Tovar, 2-6, 7-5 (10-6). Naomi Blanks beat Rim Assenhaji (Alabama State), 6-4, 6-4 and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Gabrielle Pierce (Florida A&M). However, Polina Georgieva (Jackson State) ended the run in the quarters with a 6-3, 6-2 win.
Also in the C Flight, Mackenna Stewart dropped the opening match to Lauren Oliver (Howard), 6-0, 6-2.
Alabama A&M returns to action Oct. 3-4 by hosting the Southwestern Athletic Conference Fall Tournament at the AAMU Tennis Courts.
