ROME, Ga. (May 7, 2025) – The University of North Alabama women's tennis team opened its 2025 UTR NIT Tournament run with a 4-2 comeback victory Wednesday evening over Middle Tennessee in Rome, Ga.

The Lions showed fight in their first NIT dual, rallying back from a dropped doubles point to overtake the Blue Raiders in the quarterfinal round. North Alabama and Middle Tennessee split the opening two singles matches, but UNA rolled to three-straight victories en route to the semifinal round. The Lions earned their first all-time win over MTSU and the program's first non-conference postseason win since moving to Division I.

North Alabama improves to 19-5 on the season, while MTSU concludes the tournament with a 17-9 record. UNA will now meet No. 48 Charlotte in the semifinals at noon CT.

UNA's Stanislava Bobrovnikova and Eeva Ristola led the Lions with two wins each. The Atlantic Sun Conference's Doubles Pair of the Year combined for a doubles win while also taking their respective singles matches. Junior Senem Ocal put on a dominant display in her singles win, while sophomore Mathilde Delaney provided the clinching win from court four.

The Blue Raiders seized momentum early with two solid doubles win from court two and three. Middle Tennessee's Alessia Truden Rutuja Chaphalkar started with a 6-2 court two win over Anoek Pruijmboom and Ada Karabacak, but UNA's Bobrovnikova and Ristola answered back with a 6-3, top-flight triumph over Eloise Swarbrick and Lena Peyer.

Middle Tennessee gained the clinching doubles win with a 6-3 victory over Ocal and Delaney from court three.

Bobrovnikova claimed the first win with MTSU's Alessia Truden retiring down 0-4 in the first set. Middle Tennessee answered back with a court-six victory, with Zenn Lim beating Pruijmboom, 6-0, 6-1.

With the Blue Raiders leading the team score, 2-1, North Alabama stormed back to take the dual with wins from courts three, four and five.

UNA's Ocal tied the team score with her court-five win over MTSU's Conde, 6-1, 6-2. Ristola added the third team point from court three, with the junior defeating the Blue Raiders' Peyer in a hard-fought, 7-5, 6-3 triumph. The final point was won by Delaney with her victory against Chaphalkar, overcoming a dropped first set to send the Lions to the semifinals in a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win.



North Alabama 4, Middle Tennessee 2

Doubles

1. Stanislava Bobrovnikova/Eeva Ristola (UNA) def. Eloise Swarbrick/Lena Peyer (MTSU), 6-3
2. Alessia Truden/Rutuja Chaphalkar (MTSU) def. Anoek Pruijmboom/Ada Karabacak (UNA), 6-2
3. Ilaria Sposetti/Sara Conde (MTSU) def. Senem Ocal/Mathilde Delaney (UNA), 6-3

Order of Finish: (2,1,3)


Singles

1. Stanislava Bobrovnikova (UNA) def. Alessia Truden (MTSU), 4-0, retired
2. Ada Karabacak (UNA) vs. Ilaria Sposetti (MTSU), 6-4, 5-7, 3-1, unfinished
3. Eeva Ristola (UNA) def. Lena Peyer (MTSU), 7-5, 6-3
4. Mathilde Delaney (UNA) def. Rutuja Chaphalkar (MTSU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
5. Senem Ocal (UNA) def. Sara Conde (MTSU), 6-1, 6-2
6. Zenn Lim (MTSU) def. Anoek Pruijmboom (UNA), 6-0, 6-1

Order of Finish: (1,6,5,3,4)


Match Notes

North Alabama: 19-5
Middle Tennessee: 17-9

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