April 19, 2008

The script was going just like last year's. The Lady Bulldogs were the second seed in the east, just like last year. They faced the Lady Tigers of Grambling State, just like last year. The team that won would face the Southern Jaguars, just like last year. Unlike last year, it won't be the Lady Bulldogs.

For the first time since 2004, Alabama A&M won't be in at least the semi-finals of the SWAC Women's Tennis Tournament.

The first round matches were delay by rain and the ladies spent much of the day lying around the hotel waiting for word. When it finally came, the Ladies had an hour to get to the courts and get ready to play the match at 5 p.m. at the Alexandria Aquatic and Tennis Club rather than the scheduled City Park Complex.

"I have to take my hat off to the young ladies of Grambling State", commented coach Thomas Colvin. "They came out and played hard, kept their focus despite the conditions, and are moving on to the semis."

Following some confusion about the order of the play, the matches did finally start at 5:40 p.m.

In doubles, the Lady Bulldogs were not able to secure the all important one point, something they did in pulling off the win against Grambling State earlier in the year.

"We were up 6-3 at the number 3 doubles and didn't win another game", coach Colvin said. "I don't think their 3 doubles played that well, we just started making more mistakes than they did. That was tough to see happening."

In singles, the Lady Bulldogs got back in the match with wins at #1 and #2 singles, Me'Shala Johnson and Brittany Jelks respectively; however, a loss at #3 singles really hurt the comeback chances. Losses at #4 and #6 closed the door on the Lady Bulldogs.

"This was disappointing, but I knew we would have to play extremely well and mistake-free to move through this tournament. We just didn't get that type of effort tonite."

"We've done well in the SWAC and been really competitive for quite a while. It's easy to say that those kinds of things happen in sports, and they do. I'm sure tomorrow I'll look at this and probably will have that feeling...but not right now."