ORLANDO, Fla. (March 26, 2025) – No. 10 Lubbock Christian University split a pair of non-conference matches during its Spring Break road trip to Florida, falling 6-1 to No. 3 Nova Southeastern at the USTA National Campus before rebounding with a 6-1 victory over Tampa on the road.
 
No. 3 Nova Southeastern 6, No. 10 Lubbock Christian 1
Lubbock Christian (9-3) faced an uphill battle against an unbeaten Nova Southeastern squad (14-0) and was unable to secure momentum as the Sharks claimed the doubles point with victories at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. The 21st-ranked duo of Kristyna Hranacova and Ita Habekovic took down LCU's 18th-ranked pair of Axelle Jacquemin and Andrea De Bernardo, 6-3, at No. 1. Shortly after, Sofia Shing and Isabella Ciancaglini sealed the doubles point for NSU with a 6-4 win over Anastasiia Opolska and AnaMaria Zoric at No. 2. The No. 3 doubles match was left unfinished with LCU's Oshini Herath and Mariia Koroleva leading 6-5.
 
In singles play, NSU continued its dominance, clinching the match with victories at No. 5, No. 1, and No. 6 singles in that order. Noemie Dadoun outlasted LCU's Maya Adler in a tight first set before cruising in the second for a 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 win at No. 5. At No. 1 singles, No. 12-ranked Hranacova defeated Opolska 6-2, 6-4, while Julia Moraes closed the door on LCU's hopes with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Zoric at No. 6.
 
De Bernardo battled No. 34-ranked Habekovic at No. 2 singles but came up short in a 7-5, 6-4 decision. Koroleva provided the lone point for LCU with a hard-fought three-set win over No. 66 Shing at No. 3 singles, taking a 10-8 tiebreak in the deciding set. Ciancaglini completed the match with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Jacquemin at No. 4.
 
No. 10 Lubbock Christian 5, Tampa 1
LCU (10-3) responded with a strong showing against Tampa (2-8), sweeping the doubles matches to secure the opening point. Herath and Koroleva struck first with a 6-1 win at No. 3 doubles before Opolska and Zoric followed suit with a 6-1 victory at No. 2. Jacquemin and De Bernardo closed out the sweep with a 7-5 triumph at No. 1 doubles over Victoria Sanchez and Nicole Cierniak.
 
The Lady Chaps carried their momentum into singles play, clinching the match with victories at No. 5, No. 1, and No. 3 singles. Adler set the tone with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Alexandra Chebli at No. 5, while LCU dropped its lone match at No. 4 singles, where L. Eriksson Sundling defeated Jacquemin 6-4, 6-2.
 
Opolska secured the clinching point for LCU at No. 1 singles, grinding out a 7-5, 7-5 win over Sanchez. Koroleva followed with another key victory at No. 3 singles, battling past Ida Axelsson 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). Zoric provided the final point at No. 6 singles, rallying from a set down to win 2-6, 6-0, 7-5 against Sophie Wagner. De Bernardo capped off the match with a thrilling three-set win over Cierniak at No. 2 singles, prevailing 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 10-6.
 
Key Performers
Koroleva played a vital role in LCU's performance over the two matches, going 2-0 in singles play, including a tiebreak win over Nova Southeastern's nationally ranked Sofia Shing. Koroleva leads LCU this season with 15 singles wins (15-4) and has won four consecutive matches. The pairing of Herath and Koroleva also impressed in doubles, winning their lone completed match and leading another when left unfinished.
 
The Lady Chaps open conference play Friday, as they look to build on their 10-3 record against No.2 Midwestern State with a 10 a.m. start at Penny Gullo Tennis Center.