FLORENCE, Ala. (February 22, 2025) – The University of North Alabama women's tennis team defeated Jackson State on Saturday afternoon, earning its first home win of the season in a 4-1 triumph over the Tigers.

North Alabama returned to action after an over two-week hiatus, taking the victory from Jackson State with strong play in singles. The Tigers posed an early challenge with the doubles point, but UNA answered back with four straight-set singles victories.

Action started in doubles with Jackson State taking the early advantage with two wins. The Tigers' Paula Corbalan and Zeina Shaaban opened by defeating North Alabama's Stanislava Bobrovnikova and Ada Karabacak, 6-4, from the top flight.

Junior Eeva Ristola and sophomore Mathilde Delaney put the Lions on the board with a 6-4 second-flight win against Jackson State's Isabella Benevides and Kayleigh Didderiens. The final doubles match went into a tiebreak, but JSU's Zofia Dziewiecka and Daniela Tovar sealed the doubles point with a 7-6 (7-5) triumph over junior Senem Ocal and sophomore Emma Ansorge from flight three.

Singles play saw North Alabama take back momentum with four consecutive wins. Bobrovnikova took a top-flight win over Corbalan, 6-1, 6-2, before Ansorge followed with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Shaaban from the second flight. Karabacak continued the winning ways with a flight three 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Didderiens, and Delaney capped the afternoon with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Benevides from court five.

Flights four and six went unfinished, but UNA's Ristola led the way over Dziewiecka, 6-3, 2-2, before the dual's conclusion. Ocal and Jackson State's Chiara Desia Dabarno only played through the first set from flight six.

The Lions picked up their third win of the season to move to 3-2 overall while Jackson State still searches for its first win at 0-5. The victory was also the third overall against the Tigers in the all-time series, moving UNA's record to 3-0 over Jackson State.



North Alabama 4, Jackson State 1


Doubles

1. Paula Corbalan/Zeina Shaaban (JSU) def. Stanislava Bobrovnikova/Ada Karabacak (UNA), 6-4
2. Mathilde Delaney/Eeva Ristola (UNA) def. Isabella Benavides/Kayleigh Didderiens (JSU), 6-4
3. Zofia Dziewiecka/Daniela Tovas (JSU) def. Senem Ocal/Emma Ansorge (UNA), 7(7)-6(5)

Singles

1. Stanislava Bobrovnikova (UNA) def. Paula Corbalan (JSU), 6-1, 6-2
2. Emma Ansorge (UNA) def. Zeina Shaaban (JSU), 6-3, 6-2
3. Ada Karabacak (UNA) def. Kayleigh Didderiens (JSU), 6-4, 6-1
4. Eeva Ristola (UNA) vs. Zofia Dziewiecka (JSU), 6-3, 2-2, unfinished
5. Mathilde Delaney (UNA) def. Isabella Benavides (JSU), 6-2, 6-1
6. Chiara Desia Dabarno (JSU) vs. Senem Ocal (UNA), 3-1, unfinished


Match Notes
North Alabama: 3-2
Jackson State: 0-5


COMING UP NEXT 

The Lions return to the UNA Tennis Courts on Tuesday, Feb. 25, set for a dual against in-state rivals Jacksonville State at noon.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.