Box Score (Match 1) | Box Score (Match 2)
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MOBILE, Ala. — Southern Nazarene entered the first day of pool play needing to wins to secure a spot in Thursday's semifinal round and got it, but it wasn't easy.
 
"The girls just persevere," said SNU Head Coach Charlie Hibbard. "They know going into a match they are going to have to battle and fight out of the hole. They just overcame it today big time. I was very proud. After today, I think we have proven we deserve to be here."
 
The Crimson Storm (10-5) was on the verge of letting each match slip away, but bounced back for a 5-4 win over Campbellsville before downing Roberts Wesleyan 5-3. The two wins also puts SNU on its longest winning streak of the year at four straight.
 
In the opener, SNU started down 1-0 after defaulting at No. 3 doubles. Masha Andrianova and Natalia Moreno though took care of the NAIA's No. 20-ranked Anna Tumanyan and Haley Dallas, 8-5. Marina Shipilova and Karina Kotova did the same at No. 2 doubles picking up an 8-5 win. Andrianova and Moreno moved to 12-2 on the year while Kotova and Shipilova went to 10-4 and have won six straight. Both are 8-2 over their last 10.
 
The Tigers tied things up at 2-2 with a default by SNU at No. 6 singles and then took a 3-2 lead with a 6-0 6-0 loss by Haley Cantwell at No. 5. Campbellsville jumped out to a 4-2 advantage as Shiplova fell 6-3, 6-3 at No. 3.
 
SNU though began to pick apart the Tigers one by one. Moreno cut it to 4-3 with a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 2 before Kotova won 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 at No. 4. Kotova lost ground late in the first set, but cruised through the tiebreaker and the second set.
 
It all came down to Andrianova at No. 1. The junior put her 12-0 record on the line and dropped the first set, 6-4, to Tumanyan. Andrianova though tore through the second set, winning 6-1 to force a 10-point third set. Andrianova led 6-3 before Tumanyan scored two straight, but Andrianova dug in and scored the next five points to pick up the win, move to 13-0 and give the Storm a big win.
 
"She's (Masha) never going to stop fighting," said Hibbard. "She just digs down deep and finds energy or cleverness to out play or out think her opponent. I am always confident she's going to fight back. She played a big hitter today, but answered and won the second. She really pulled that one out for us."
 
In the second match, it was both doubles teams who started the pace. Andrianova and Moreno won 8-1 before Shipilova and Kotova survived a tiebreaker to pick up a 9-8 (7-2) win at No. 2.
 
"Winning all four doubles today took pressure off singles," said Hibbard. "It gave a little more cushion as we are already down 2-0 to start every match."
 
After Roberts Wesleyan tied it at 2-2 with a default at No. 6 singles by SNU, Masha Andrianova made quick work at No. 1 to move to 14-0 with a 6-0, 6-0 win. Cantwell picked up her first game of the national championship as she fell 6-1, 6-0 at No. 6 and the Redhawks tied it at 3-3.
 
Karina Kotova put the Storm out in front 4-3 after she won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4. Moreno put it away at No. 2 as she won in straight sets 6-4, 6-0. Shipilova had split sets at No. 3 and were headed to a third set tiebreaker before Moreno won.
 
The Crimson Storm have secured a place in the semifinals, but will have to play No. 1 (NCCAA) Azusa Pacific Wednesday at 9 a.m. to close out pool play. The Cougars swept through Campbellsville and Roberts Wesleyan 5-0 in both matches Tuesday.