FLORENCE, Ala. (September 17, 2025) – University of North Alabama Director of Tennis Olaya Garrido-Rivas announced the 2025 fall season schedule for women's tennis on Wednesday, starting this upcoming weekend in Lafayette, La.
UNA will compete in six fall events in preparation for the 2026 spring season. The Lions begin with their only September dual this weekend before playing five October invitationals and tournaments. The schedule features road trips to Louisiana, Tennessee and Florida, with in-state stops in Auburn and Tuscaloosa.
The Lions are coming off a record-breaking 2025 spring season highlighted by 19 wins, the most in program history at the Division I level. UNA finished 19-6 and reached the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament finals despite being picked sixth in the preseason poll.
Garrido-Rivas was named ASUN Coach of the Year and led the Lions to its first UTR Sports NIT Championship win against Middle Tennessee. She recently received a contract extension through the 2029 season, announced in July.
Entering the new year, the Lions return five players and bring in three new faces. The five returners each won at least 13 matches last spring and bring experience across singles flights two through six.
The Lions are led by seniors Eeva Ristola and Senem Ocal. Ristola won 33 matches in 2025 and won the program's first ASUN Doubles Pair of the Year with former standout Stanislava Bobrovnikova. Ocal provided solid contributions in 2025 with 17 wins.
Juniors Emma Ansorge, Mathilde Delaney and Ada Karabacak also return for the Lions. Karabacak secured the second-most wins in 2025 with 30 combined victories. Delaney's first UNA season resulted in 25 wins, and Ansorge returns to action after an injury-shortened season. Prior to injury, Ansorge won 13 matches.
The roster is rounded out by newcomers Farah Asaad and Sammie Schouten, along with junior transfer Louise Booker from UNC Asheville.
ABOUT THE SCHEDULE
The Lions' fall-season opener comes at the Ragin' Cajun Hidden Duals from Sept. 19-20 in Lafayette, La. UNA heads next to the Lipscomb Fall Invitational in Nashville from Oct. 3-5. Later in the month finds North Alabama in Auburn for the ITA Southern Regional Championships from Oct. 13-17.
The UTR Belmont and Conference Singles Tournament falls on Oct. 24-26 in Nashville, Tenn. and Jacksonville, Fla., respectively. The final fall event is the Roberta Alison Fall Classic from Oct. 31 - Nov. 1 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
To view the schedule, click here.
ABOUT THE RAGIN' CAJUN HIDDEN DUALS
The Lions are set to compete against hosts Louisiana, Louisiana Tech and McNeese. The two days include three matchups each day with the Lions facing a team in either singles or doubles format.
Friday opens the weekend with two singles and a doubles matchup. Saturday concludes the event with two doubles and one singles competition.
North Alabama begins day one against Louisiana Tech in doubles, followed by singles versus Louisiana and McNeese.
Day two opens with two doubles against Louisiana and McNeese, respectively. The weekend concludes versus Louisiana Tech in singles.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
