TYLER, Texas (February 25, 2026) — Lubbock Christian University closed a three-match neutral-site weekend in Tyler with a 2-1 showing, earning wins over Southern Arkansas and Harding around a tight 4-3 loss to No. 15 Mississippi College, as the Lady Chaparrals now turn their focus to Thursday's home opener at the Penny Gullo Tennis Center.
 
LCU (2-2) opened Friday at Tyler Junior College's Murphy Tennis Center with a 5-2 victory over Southern Arkansas, improving to 2-0 all-time against the Muleriders. The Lady Chaparrals secured the doubles point with wins at No. 3 and No. 2, as freshmen Kristel Jativa and Ana Sofía Valero Treviño finished first with a 6-1 decision before seniors Axelle Jacquemin and Alexandra Luders followed with a 6-2 win. In singles, Jativa quickly pushed the lead to 2-0 with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 4, and sophomore AnaMaria Zoric, ranked No. 34 nationally, made it 3-0 with a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 2. Senior Andrea De Bernardo clinched the dual at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-3, before Hannah Quick added a straight-sets win at No. 6. Southern Arkansas picked up points at No. 3 and No. 5 singles, the latter coming via retirement.
 
Saturday's matchup against 15th-ranked Mississippi College followed a similar script early, but the Choctaws rallied for a 4-3 decision, dropping LCU to 0-2 all-time in the series. De Bernardo and Zoric continued their strong start at No. 1 doubles with a 6-1 win, and Jacquemin and Luders secured the doubles point with a 6-4 victory at No. 2 after the No. 3 pairing fell. Mississippi College responded swiftly in singles, taking the first three completed courts at Nos. 1, 4 and 3 to build a 3-1 lead. Zoric halted the momentum with a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 2, and Jativa forced a decisive seventh point by rallying for a 4-6, 7-5, 10-8 victory at No. 5. The Choctaws ultimately sealed the dual at No. 6 singles.
 
The Lady Chaparrals closed the weekend Sunday at UT Tyler's Summers Tennis Center with a 6-1 win over Harding, improving to 3-0 all-time against the Bisons. LCU swept doubles for the point, with Jacquemin and Luders finishing first at No. 2, Jativa and Valero Treviño following at No. 3 and De Bernardo and Zoric completing the sweep at No. 1. In singles, Zoric extended the lead to 2-0 with a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 2, and senior Oshini Herath made it 3-0 at No. 4. Jacquemin added a straight-sets victory at No. 3 before Harding earned its lone point at No. 1. Jativa and Valero Treviño closed the match with wins at Nos. 5 and 6.
 
Zoric and Jativa proved vital throughout the weekend, each going 3-0 in singles and extending three-match win streaks. Jativa (9-5) and Zoric (9-6) co-lead the team with nine singles victories this season. In doubles, Jacquemin and Luders went 3-0 on the week, while De Bernardo and Zoric improved to 4-1 overall and 3-0 at the No. 1 position, winning their fourth consecutive match together. Jativa and Valero Treviño lead the squad with seven doubles wins this season.
 
LCU returns home Thursday for its home opener, hosting Seward County Community College in a 10 a.m. doubleheader at the Penny Gullo Tennis Center. While Seward County competes at the junior college level, the matches will count toward LCU's overall record and ITA rankings as the Lady Chaparrals look to build on the momentum from a productive weekend in Tyler.