LUBBOCK, Texas (April 6, 2025) – No. 19 Lubbock Christian rallied from a doubles sweep to stun UT Permian Basin 4-3 in a Lone Star Conference dual Sunday at Penny Gullo Tennis Center, relying on clutch singles play to claim their third consecutive win.
 
The Falcons (5-5, 1-3 LSC) came out firing in doubles, sweeping all three courts to earn the first point. The first result came at No. 2, where Tuva Asplund and Teodora Vrucan cruised past Mariia Koroleva and Andrea De Bernardo 6-2. UTPB clinched the doubles point soon after at the top spot, with Paige Bott and Brooke Runyan holding off Anastasiia Opolska and AnaMaria Zoric 7-5. Fanny Bergstrom and Sophia Rashid completed the sweep at No. 3 with another tight 7-5 victory over Oshini Herath and Alexandra Luders.
 
Despite the early deficit, the Lady Chaps (13-4, 3-1 LSC) immediately flipped the momentum in singles, beginning with a dominant showing from Opolska at the top of the lineup. The nationally ranked No. 32 junior was clinical in a 6-1, 6-3 win over Runyan at No. 1 singles, leveling the team score at 1-1.
 
Zoric gave LCU its first lead of the day with a composed effort at No. 5. The junior held off Mattew Bowe in a pair of tight sets, 7-5, 6-4, pushing the Lady Chaps ahead 2-1.
But UTPB responded quickly. At No. 4, Bergstrom delivered her second win of the day with a steady 6-2, 6-4 decision over Maya Adler to even the dual at 2-2.
 
Herath then turned in a pivotal performance at No. 6, taking down Dinethya Dharmaratne 6-4, 6-4 in a match full of long rallies and timely holds. That win put LCU back in front, 3-2, with two courts remaining.
 
With the match hanging in the balance, all eyes shifted to the middle of the lineup. At No. 2, De Bernardo, ranked No. 65 nationally, shook off a slow start against Rhea Singh and found her rhythm in the second and third sets. The Venezuelan sophomore stormed back for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory, clinching the dual for the Lady Chaps at 4-2.
 
The final match to finish came at No. 3, where Vrucan capped an impressive day for the Falcons. After dropping the second set, she regrouped and edged Koroleva 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 to bring the final score to 4-3.
 
Key performers for LCU included Opolska and De Bernardo, who each posted decisive wins over the Falcons' top-two singles players. Herath and Zoric added straight-set victories at the bottom of the lineup. Zoric's win marked her fifth straight, who remains unbeaten in LSC singles (4-0) and is 15-1 in duals this season. Bernardo (16-6) and Zoric (16-3) each tied Koroleva (16-6) for the team lead in singles wins. For UTPB, Vrucan and Bergstrom were standouts, contributing in both doubles and singles, but the Falcons couldn't overcome LCU's singles depth.
 
LCU takes a three-match win streak on the road, as they head to Texas A&M-Kingsville Thursday for an LSC dual.