LUBBOCK, Texas (March 30, 2024) – No.24 Lubbock Christian University was unable to garner a win in a top-25 matchup, facing No.19 Angelo State Saturday afternoon at Penny Gullo Tennis Center, as the Rambelles edged the Lady Chaparrals 4-3 in a Lone Star Conference dual. The match was LCU's annual Team Luke Hope For Minds Benefits Match and donations were raised to support the efforts of Team Luke Hope For Minds.
 
The Lady Chaparrals were forced to play from behind after dropping the doubles point. LCU's No.40 nationally ranked doubles tandem of Andrea De Bernardo / Michelle Trochez fell in the No.1-singles match to No.28 Avery Durham / Eva Schwartz 6-3. The Lady Chaps responded with Oshini Herath / Anastasiia Opolska winning No.2-doubles (6-4), but the Belles won the dual point winning the No.3-doubles match.
 
The early matches completed in singles play benefitted ASU, as they won the first three completed singles matches for a 4-0 lead to clinch the dual. No.14 Letizia Corsini topped Trochez in No.1-singles, and ASU followed with wins in No.3-singles and No.4-singles. LCU did close strong, as Mariia Koroleva (No.6-singles), Opolska (No.5-singles) and No.30 De Bernardo (No.2-singles) responded with singles victories. De Bernardo won her match with a 6-3 win in the third set.
 
Opolska improved to 22-4 this season (22 wins leads the team) in singles play and 16-1 in singles played in duals. She has won 11 consecutive singles matches. Koroleva, winning her seventh consecutive singles match, improved to 19-3 overall in singles and 14-1 in singles played in duals (she is 7-0 in No.6-singles matches).   
 
LCU fell to 16-4 overall this season and 1-3 in LSC play. It was their first loss at home this season (2-1). The Lady Chaps fell to 2-3 this season in matches against nationally ranked (ITA) opponents. They also fall to 0-2 all-time against ASU. LCU returns to the courts Thursday at 1 p.m. in Odessa, Texas facing UT Permian Basin.