Tennis teams fall to No. 9 Xavier to open 2026 schedule

NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola Wolf Pack men's and women's tennis teams officially opened the 2026 season on Tuesday against Xavier University of Louisiana, which was ranked No. 9 in the NAIA on both the men's and women's sides. The No. 23-ranked Loyola men lost 5-2, while the No. 6 women lost 6-1. 

Both teams only won one doubles match. Avery Frierson and Sofia Amodu won 6-4 at court 3 in the women's match, while Sam Izrael and Alfredo Gallegos secured a 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles. 

The Gold Rush were up 3-0 in the match before Loyola's first point in men's singles, which came in a three-set win for Hippolyte de Preville on court 2 (6-4, 3-6, 6-3). The match was won for Xavier by the time the Pack got its second point in the scoreline, as Jett Nguyen also closed out a three setter, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. 

The Loyola women lost every court but No. 4, where Adele Fereres won in straight sets, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4. Though some of the other matches were close, with Frierson and Avrora Volkova both winning the first set in their matches but falling in three sets. Presha Shanthamoorthi also lost a three-set match in a tiebreak. 

The Wolf Pack women's team will now head to Rome, Georgia for the 2026 ITA NAIA National Women's Team Indoor Championship. Loyola qualified for the tournament as one of the top seven teams last season. The team's first match of the tournament is against No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan on Friday at 8 am EST. 

Next up for the men's team is the beginning of the conference schedule, as Loyola hosts Mobile on February 27 at New Orleans City Park. 

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Women's Results

No. 6 Loyola – 1

No. 9 Xavier – 6

Doubles
1. #4 Wheatley/Brnic (XULA) def. Ponce/Fereres (LOYNO) 6-3
2. Sabikova/Sales (XULA) Shanthamoorthi/Volkova (LOYNO) 6-1
3. Amodu/Frierson (LOYNO) def. Ma'at/Lesure (XULA) 6-4
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1

Singles
1. #12 Maja Brnic (XULA) def. Micaela Ponce (LOYNO) 6-4, 7-5
2. Ana Sabikova (XULA) def. Juliette Finch (LOYNO) 6-2, 6-2
3. McKenna Wheatley (XULA) def. Avery Frierson (LOYNO) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0
4. Adele Fereres (LOYNO) def. Anais Yakan (XULA) 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
5. Valeria Ortega (XULA) def. #34 Presha Shanthamoorthi (LOYNO) 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-1)
6. Mia Sales (XULA) def. Avrora Volkova (LOYNO) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
 

Men's Results

No. 23 Loyola – 0

No. 9 Xavier – 0

Doubles
1. Gallegos/Izrael (LOYNO) def. Suarez/Jebutu (XULA) 6-3
2. Woody/Sanchez (XULA) def. de Preville/Marin (LOYNO) 6-3
3. Rivera/Velez (XULA) def. Motazed/Nguyen (LOYNO) 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3 

Singles
1. #4 Nereo Suarez (XULA) def. Sam Izrael (LOYNO) 6-2, 6-1
2. Hippolyte de Preville (LOYNO) def. VanDer Woody (XULA) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
3. Gabriel Velez (XULA) def. Alfredo Gallegos (LOYNO) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
4. Christian Sanchez (XULA) def. Samuel Marin (LOYNO) 6-7 (4-7), 
5. Emmanuel Jebutu (XULA) def. Spencer Matz (LOYNO) 7-5, 6-2
6. Jett Nguyen (LOYNO) def. Edilson Rosa (XULA) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 5, 2, 4, 3, 6