No. 8 Loyola takes down No. 6 Middle Georgia, advances into SSAC final

MOBILE, Ala. – The No. 8 Loyola Wolf Pack women's tennis team defeated the No. 6 Middle Georgia State Knights for the first time in program history Friday morning, 4-1, to advance at the 2025 Southern States Athletic Conference Championship tournament and earn a spot in the championship match. 

Loyola's overall record improves to 15-5, which is a new record for wins in a season for the Wolf Pack men's and women's tennis teams. 

Saturday's championship match at the Mobile Tennis Center will feature the third-seeded Wolf Pack against the top seed William Carey. The Crusaders, ranked No. 5 in the NAIA, are currently 15-0 this season after beating Mobile 4-0 in the semifinal.
 

While the Pack swept doubles back on March 29 when the teams previously met, Middle Georgia had a surprising start to Friday's match by taking the doubles point. The Knights weren't able to take momentum into singles play, however, as the Pack won four singles matches, all in straight sets. 

Adele Fereres got singles started with her sixth straight win, beating No. 70-ranked Aya El Marrasse Zarioui 6-3, 6-1 on court 4. Fereres improved to 15-2 with the win, and her 15 singles wins this spring are the most by any Wolf Pack tennis player in program history. 

Avrora Volkova became the fifth Loyola women's tennis player to reach 10 singles victories this season, winning 6-4, 6-3 on court 6 to improve to 10-6 overall. 

Lucy Carpenter is undefeated in her last six matches and is now 14-3 this season after defeating top Middle Georgia player Marina Prieto Gonfaus, 7-5, 6-4, for the second time this season.

The match was clinched for the Pack by Chloe Henderson, who got past No. 63-ranked Ainhoa Meili Fernandez del Moral, 6-4, 6-4, to send Loyola into the finals. 

Micaela Ponce and Avery Frierson also won the first set in their matches, which went unfinished due to the team win being clinched. Ponce was up 5-4 in the second set over No. 66 Berta Castelló when the Wolf Pack clinched. 

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Results

No. 8 Loyola – 4

No. 6 Middle Georgia – 1

Doubles
1. #5 Carpenter/Henderson (LOYNO) vs. #19 Fernandez/Prieto (MGA) 4-5, unfinished
2. Castelló/Takoria (MGA) def. Briggs/Frierson (LOYNO) 6-1
3. Prihach/El Marasse def. #46 Fereres/Ponce (LOYNO) 6-4
Order of finish: 2, 3 

Singles
1. #6 Lucy Carpenter (LOYNO) def. Marina Prieto Gonfaus (MGA) 7-5, 6-4
2. #47 Micaela Ponce (LOYNO) vs. #66 Berta Castelló Petrus (MGA) 7-6 (7-5), 5-4, unfinished
3. Chloe Henderson (LOYNO) def. #63 Ainhoa Meili Fernandez del Moral (MGA) 6-4, 6-4
4. Adele Fereres (LOYNO) def. #70 Aya El Marrasse Zarioui (MGA) 6-3, 6-1
5. Avery Frierson (LOYNO) vs. Tamanna Takoria (MGA) 6-4, 3-6, unfinished
6. Avrora Volkova (LOYNO) def. Yana Prihach (MGA) 6-4, 6-3 
Order of finish: 4, 6, 1, 3