Arkansas State and Troy advanced through the first round of the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Tennis Championship on Thursday at the Rome Tennis Center in Georgia. Both teams earned spots in Friday’s quarterfinals after impressive victories.
Arkansas State Upsets Georgia State 4-1
No. 9 seed Arkansas State pulled off a 4-1 upset over No. 8 seed Georgia State in the opening match of the tournament. The Red Wolves (13-10) claimed the doubles point with wins on courts one and three. Anna Grigoreva and Caria Muro Castellvi secured a 6-3 win on court one, while Sarah Millard and Hanmare Mcaslin followed up with a 6-4 victory on court three.
In singles play, Muro Castellvi won on court three via retirement to give Arkansas State a 2-0 lead. Mcaslin extended the lead with a 7-5, 6-0 win on court five. Georgia State (6-13) managed one point with a 6-1, 6-2 win from Luciana Galvez on court four. But Lily Cvanciger sealed the match for Arkansas State, winning 7-6, 6-4 on court two.
This victory marks Arkansas State’s first Sun Belt tournament win since 2015 and their first quarterfinal appearance in a decade. They will face top-seeded and nationally ranked No. 46 Old Dominion on Friday at 10 a.m. ET.
Troy Outlasts Coastal Carolina 4-2
In a match that stretched nearly four hours, No. 7 seed Troy edged out No. 10 seed Coastal Carolina 4-2 to move into the quarterfinals.
Coastal Carolina (10-11) struck first in doubles with a 6-3 win on court three. But Troy (12-9) answered back. Maria Guirguis and Valeriia Avdeeva won 6-4 on court one, and Gabrielle Leslie and Emilia Namyslo clinched the doubles point with a 7-5 win on court two.
Coastal evened the match at 1-1 when Anna Babayan claimed a 6-2, 6-2 win on court one. Guirguis responded for Troy with a 6-3, 6-4 victory on court two. The match tied again at 2-2 when Coastal’s Bruelle Kouam rallied to win on court three, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Troy pulled ahead as Leena Metwally won on court four in three sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. Hagar Amin sealed the win on court five with a 7-5, 6-2 victory, sending the Trojans into the quarterfinals against No. 2 seed App State at 2 p.m. ET Friday.
Sun Belt Women’s Tennis Championship Schedule (Rome, GA)
First Round – Thursday, April 24
Match 1 – (9) Arkansas State def. (8) Georgia State, 4-1
Match 2 – (7) Troy def. (10) Coastal Carolina, 4-2
Quarterfinals – Friday, April 25
Match 3 – (4) South Alabama vs. (5) James Madison – 10 a.m. ET
Match 4 – (1) Old Dominion vs. (9) Arkansas State – 10 a.m. ET
Match 5 – (3) Texas State vs. (6) Marshall – 2 p.m. ET
Match 6 – (2) App State vs. (7) Troy – 2 p.m. ET
Semifinals – Saturday, April 26
Match 7 – Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4 – 1:00 p.m. ET
Match 8 – Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6 – 1:00 p.m. ET
Championship – Sunday, April 27
Match 9 – Winner Match 7 vs. Winner Match 8 – 1:00 p.m. ET
All matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
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