Box Score NEW ORLEANS – After defeating Nicholls for the first time in program history near the end of the 2024 spring season, the Loyola Wolf Pack women's tennis team started off the 2025 spring with a 4-3 win against the Colonels.
"It's a solid start and we can become a great team," said head coach Matt Llewellyn. "We will continue to work and improve to prepare for the challenges ahead." A trio of matches against ranked NAIA opponents awaits the Wolf Pack next week in a crossover challenge with the Sun Conference and Appalachian Athletic Conference.
Loyola began the match strong, winning all three doubles matches Friday. "Our women came out and dominated from the start in doubles," said Llewellyn. "Isabella Leaño and Avrora Volkova set the tone early and showed great energy and leadership." Leaño and Volkova impressed with a 6-2 win on court 2.
Juniors Adele Fereres and Micaela Ponce teamed up for a 6-4 win on court 3 in their first dual match together. The Pack then closed out doubles on court 1, with Lucy Carpenter and Chloe Henderson winning in a tiebreak, 7-6 (7-1).
"Adele and Micaela clinching at 3 was a huge boost of confidence for us to go up 1-0," Llewellyn said. We carried that into the singles and showed we can beat solid teams without our best level and in challenging conditions."
After Nicholls opened singles with wins at courts 3 and 6, Loyola earned its second point with a 6-4, 6-1 victory from Carpenter, the NAIA's No. 7-ranked singles player.
The Colonels prevailed on court 2 to go up 3-2 in the match, but back-to-back wins from Avrora Volkova and Adele Fereres, who each won first-set tiebreaks, secured the match for Loyola. "Adele clinching the match against Nicholls for the second time in a row was special," Llewellyn said. Fereres toughed out a three-set victory to wrap up Loyola's win against the Colonels last year.
Loyola will play three matches at the SSAC/SUN/AAC crossover in Mobile, Ala. The first match, against NAIA No. 24 SCAD Atlanta, is set to begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6. The Pack will also face No. 14 St. Thomas and No. 8 SCAD Savannah next week.
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Results
No. 9 Loyola – 4
Nicholls – 3
Doubles
1. Carpenter/Henderson (LOYNO) def. Inna/Villegas (NICH) 7-6 (7-1)
2. Leaño/Volkova (LOYNO) def. Cruz/Safarova (NICH) 6-2
3. Fereres/Ponce (LOYNO) def. Bordiginon/Grube Andersen (NICH) 6-4
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles
1. #7 Lucy Carpenter (LOYNO) deff. Aada Inna (NICH) 6-4, 6-1
2. Paulia Villegas (NICH) def. Chloe Henderson (LOYNO) 7-5, 5-0
3. Sophia Safarova (NICH) def. Micaela Ponce (LOYNO) 6-1, 6-3
4. Adele Fereres (LOYNO) def. Noemie Piquet (NICH) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
5. Avrora Volkova (LOYNO) def. Julia Bordiginon (NICH) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
6. Amalie Grube Andersen (NICH) def. Juliette Finch (LOYNO) 6-3, 6-1
Order of finish: 6, 3, 1, 2, 5, 4
