CARY, N.C., April 27, 2024 – Top-seeded South Carolina State University won the 2024 MEAC Women's Tennis Championship Tournament with a 4-2 decision against No. 2 seed Delaware State University, marking their fifth straight, and 18th overall, MEAC Championship title.
Sofiya Chursina, the MEAC Player of the Year, paired up with MEAC first team all-conference teammate Hind Semlali against the Hornet's second team all-conference members, Clara Kuehnle and Daria Jula. The Bulldogs won the match 6-3.
At No 3. doubles, South Carolina State's Nalanda Silva and Teodora Vujicic went to a seven-game match against Kit Yi Kaye Au- Yeung and Noelani Lui pulling out a 7-5 win and clinching the doubles point for the Bulldogs.
Moving into singles action, Chursina defeated Kuehnle in two sets (6-2, 6-4) at No. 1 singles, while her Bulldog teammate Semlali defeated Au-Yeung 6-4, 6-1 at singles No. 2 to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead.
Klaudjia Lisovska put the Hornets on the board following a two-set victory (6-4, 6-3) against Teodora Vujicic at No. 5 singles.
SCSU's Silva and DSU's Lui were the deciding match at No. 4 singles. Silva won the first set 7-5 and after multiple lead exchanges in set two she led 5-4. With game 10 tied at 40, Silva won the deuce point claiming the set 6-4 and clinch SCSU's 18th women's tennis championship title with a 4-2 victory.
Just as the No. 4 singles match clinched, Delaware State's Mitolo won No. 6 singles 7-5, 6-2 for the Hornets second point of the match.
Jula won the first set at No. 3 singles 6-4, then dropped the second set 5-7 to South Carolina State's Berjane. Jula was leading the third set before the match was marked unfinished.
2024 MEAC Women's Tennis All-Tournament Teams
Most Outstanding Coach – Hardeep Judge, S.C. State
Most Outstanding Player – Sofiya Chursina, S.C. State
No. 1 Singles – Sofiya Chursina, S.C. State
No. 2 Singles – Hind Semlali, S.C. State
No. 3 Singles – Daria Jula, Delaware State
No. 4 Singles – Nalanda Silva, S.C. State
No. 5 Singles – Klaidjia Lisovska, Delaware State
No. 6 Singles – Imani Jean, Howard
No. 1 Doubles – Sofiya Chursina / Hind Semlali, S.C. State
No. 2 Doubles – Jordan Grayson / Selah Stibbins, Howard
No. 3 Doubles – Teodora Vujicic / Nalanda Silva, S.C. State
