The Charlotte Women’s Tennis team concluded an extraordinary season on Friday after being defeated by Washington State in the NIT Championship at the Rome Tennis Center. The Cougars showcased a flawless performance, not conceding a single point throughout their championship journey. This match saw Washington State dominate early, continuing their momentum from previous victories. Their triumph was highlighted by key wins in both doubles and singles play, ultimately sweeping the 49ers to secure the title.
In a swift start, Washington State quickly established control, replicating their strong performances from earlier rounds. Victories at the No. 1 and eventually No. 3 doubles positions with scores of 6-2 set the tone for the match. In singles action, Chisato Kanemaki delivered a decisive blow against Prisca Abbas at No. 5, ending her undefeated freshman campaign. Abbas had previously achieved a remarkable 14-0 record, marking one of the best starts by a rookie in program history.
Lucia Aranda, who partnered with Abbas in doubles, also faced defeat at No. 4, further solidifying Washington State's dominance. Despite Amira Badawi's valiant efforts to rally the team with a hard-fought second set tie, it wasn’t enough as Eva Alvarez Sande clinched the final victory over Sara Suchankova at the top singles position. Alvarez Sande played a pivotal role in securing all three matches necessary for the UTR NIT Championship win.
This marks the culmination of a historic season for Charlotte. They achieved the highest single-season winning percentage ever recorded in their program’s history at .793, surpassing their previous record set during the 1990-91 season. With a record of 23-6, they tied their second-most victories in a season, just behind the 25 wins from the same era. Notably, Charlotte’s 16 home victories set a new benchmark, eclipsing the prior record of four wins against ranked opponents set last season.
Head Coach Anthony Davison expressed pride in his team’s accomplishments, acknowledging the tough loss but celebrating their achievements. He praised senior Amira Badawi for her leadership throughout the year and looked forward to the promising future of this youthful squad. Their participation in the UTR NIT Championships marked only their second postseason appearance in school history, following their at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament last season.
