With little rest and tough competition, the ASU women’s tennis team was able to split its two duals against top-25 opponents at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Atlanta, Ga.

The No. 29 Sun Devils (3-1) fell 4-2 in the first round to No. 10 Georgia Tech (4-0) Saturday and failed to qualify for the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.

The next morning, they faced off against No. 24 Alabama (2-2) in the consolation game and defeated the Crimson Tide 4-2.

Georgia Tech jumped out to an early lead by winning two of three doubles matches and three singles victories to seal the victory.

“It was sort of nitty-gritty,” ASU coach Sheila McInerney said. “It was a pretty close match.”

The Sun Devils had fought back to make the score 3-2, but Georgia Tech freshman Elizabeth Kilborn defeated ASU senior Amanda Martin (6-1, 6-2) to grab the fourth point.

Georgia Tech sophomore Irina Falconi, the nation's top player, defeated No. 58 ASU junior Kelcy McKenna once in singles (6-1, 6-4) and once in doubles for the top seeded Yellow Jackets.

ASU freshman Hannah James earned her third dual victory for the Sun Devils by defeating the 2008 national champion Georgia Tech senior Amanda McDowell.

“That was a great win for her,” McInerney said.

James’ two victories over the weekend keep her undefeated in dual play.

A combination of a quick turnaround in between duals and prolonged matches because there were only three courts pushed the team physically and mentally.

“We didn’t get off the court until 9:30 Saturday night and then we had to come back and play [Sunday] at nine o’clock,” McInerney said. “I thought we played pretty gutsy [Sunday] morning.”

The Sun Devils came back to win four singles matches against Alabama after losing the doubles point.

McKenna, No. 68 junior Micaela Hein, James and Martin all recorded victories.

Senior Nadia Abdala fell to No. 82 Alabama freshman Alexa Guarachi (6-3, 6-2).

James finished off the dual with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Alabama senior Alice Tunaru.

ASU was also helped out with a forfeit in the No. 6 six seed.

Hein had no problem returning from a minor injury, defeating both of her opponents in two sets.

McInerney said she was proud of her team’s resiliency after playing a long match the night before.

“It was a tough six o’clock wake up call [Sunday] morning,” she said.

Reach the reporter at nathan.meacham@asu.edu