Marshall Tennis Downs South Alabama in SBC Quarterfinals, 4-1

Championship Fund

ROME, Ga. – The Marshall University Tennis team (14-10) advanced to the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Semifinals with a 4-1 win over the second-seeded South Alabama Jaguars on Friday in Rome, Georgia.

The win marks back-to-back appearances in the SBC Semifinals for MU.

"We handled the adversity well. Looking forward to putting together another one tomorrow again," Herd Tennis Head Coach John Mercer said.

For the second straight day, the Herd began the day strong in doubles with another 6-1 win from Thalia Smith and Polina Gumeniuk at number three doubles over the South Alabama pair of Ava Rath and Jade Marie.

Johanna Strom and Alina Mokrynska then closed out the doubles point with a 6-2 triumph over Rio Maeda and Jana Rovira at number one.

Gumeniuk opened singles with a straight-sets 6-4, 6-4, win at number two over Manal Ennaciri to extend the advantage to 2-0.

After the Jags took number three to make 2-1, Nour El Ouazzani grabbed a point back for Marshall with a 7-6 (8), 6-3, victory over Rovira to make it 3-1.

Then at number four, Sarah Copley grinded out a three-set triumph, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-2, over Marie to send MU to the SBC semifinals.

RESULTS
Doubles
No. 1 Johanna Strom/Alina Mokrynska (MU) def. Rio Maeda/Jana Rovira (USA) 6-2
No. 2 Nour El Ouazzani/Sarah Copley (MU) vs. Manal Ennaciri/Kenza Elakili (USA) 5-2 UF
No. 3 Thalia Smith/Polina Gumeniuk (MU) def. Ava Rath/Jade Marie (USA) 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 1

Singles
No. 1 Johanna Strom (MU) vs. Rio Maeda (USA) 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 UF
No. 2 Polina Gumeniuk (MU) def. Manal Ennaciri (USA) 6-4, 6-4
No. 3 Cristina Tchanichev (USA) def. Alina Mokrynska (MU) 6-1, 0-6, 6-1
No. 4 Sarah Copley (MU) def. Jade Marie (USA) 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-2
No. 5 Nour El Ouazzani (MU) def. Jana Rovira (USA) 7-6 (8), 6-3
No. 6 Thalia Smith (MU) vs. Kenza Elakili (USA) 7-5, 1-6, 5-1 UF
Order of finish: 2, 3, 5, 4

UP NEXT
Marshall moves on to the SBC Semifinals with a contest against sixth-seeded App State with a start time of 1:30 p.m. in Rome, Georgia.

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Marshall Tennis Downs South Alabama in SBC Quarterfinals, 4-1

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Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Sarah Copley

Nour El Ouazzani

Polina Gumeniuk

Alina Mokrynska

Thalia Smith

Johanna Strom

Marshall University Athletics