LUBBOCK, Texas (March 28, 2025) – In a tightly contested Lone Star Conference opener, No. 20 Lubbock Christian University battled No. 2 Midwestern State to the final singles match but ultimately fell 4-3 Friday at Penny Gullo Tennis Center.
Doubles play set the tone for a thrilling contest, with the Lady Chaps securing an impressive victory at the top flight. The 17th-ranked pairing of
Axelle Jacquemin and
Andrea De Bernardo delivered a statement win over No. 13-ranked Jessica Binzari and Anda Ghinga, shutting out the MSU tandem 6-0. However, the Mustangs responded swiftly at No. 2 doubles, as Camila Garcia and Hannah Yip powered past
Anastasiia Opolska and
AnaMaria Zoric, 6-3. The deciding doubles match at No. 3 was a back-and-forth battle, with MSU's Sarah Mazaraki and Sydney Williams edging out
Oshini Herath and
Mariia Koroleva in a tiebreak, 7-5, to clinch the opening point for the Mustangs.
Midwestern State extended its lead to 2-0 as 15th-ranked Sofia Giraldo overpowered Jacquemin at No. 4 singles, 6-3, 6-1. Lubbock Christian answered at the No. 6 line, with Zoric dispatching Alessia Dolce in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, leveling the match at 2-2. De Bernardo then gave LCU its first lead of the day, grinding out a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Yip at No. 2 singles.
With the Lady Chaps ahead 3-2, Midwestern State needed two more wins to claim the dual. Ghinga evened the score at 3-3 with a composed performance at No. 3 singles, defeating Koroleva 7-5, 6-2. That left the outcome resting on Court 5, where Williams completed MSU's comeback. After dropping the first set 6-1 to
Maya Adler, Williams found her rhythm, taking the next two sets 6-4, 6-1 to clinch the overall victory for the Mustangs.
Despite the loss, LCU saw several standout performances. Opolska delivered a signature win at No. 1 singles, rallying past No. 4 Binzari 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, marking a major individual victory. Opolska improved to 13-5 in singles play this season and it was her first win against a nationally ranked opponents (1-4). Additionally, the doubles triumph by Jacquemin and De Bernardo over a top-15 duo provided another bright spot for the Lady Chaps, as the duo improved to 15-8 overall on the season and 2-2 against nationally ranked foes.
Lubbock Christian (10-4, 0-1 LSC) remains home Saturday morning at 10 a.m., as they host Cameron for another LSC dual at Penny Gullo Tennis Center.