Louisiana Christian University women’s tennis team sets NAIA record

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WNTZ) – The Louisiana Christian University women’s tennis program has risen from the ashes with an intensity that few teams would be able to match, receiving 30 votes in the NAIA’s third Top 25 poll of the season, the first time a Wildcats tennis squad has ever appeared in any type of poll at any collegiate level.

While the Wildcats currently sit at 4-5 with a couple of postponements, they are unbeaten in two matches against NAIA competition, both RRAC rivals and teams receiving votes at the time of first serve, LSU Shreveport and Our Lady of the Lake, their first victories over ranked opponents in school history and rank #27 in their own right because of it.

The court-dwellers have also picked up a victory at NCAA Division III’s Texas Lutheran (7-0) and a forfeit win over Division I’s Grambling State despite not having a single home game yet.

Head Coach Alexandra Starkova has made the turnaround quick and remarkable, breaking the program record for wins in her first year back from reinstatement and now sitting just 23 points outside of the 25th slot.

The Red River Athletic Conference has proven to be small but mighty as six of its seven sponsored members are included in the latest iteration including #8 Xavier (Louisiana), #12 LSU Alexandria, #20 OLLU, and (RV) LSUS, the last of those being the only club ahead of them in the receiving votes category.

The Orange and Blue still have ample opportunities to continue proving themselves worthy of inclusion in the coming weeks, beginning with their next match at #10 Dillard on Friday at 2 p.m., followed by a trip to (RV) Mobile on March 21, a home match with #8 Loyola (New Orleans) on April 5, and a Senior Day fight with #12 LSUA April 12, all while still not knowing who their opposition will be for the annual LCU / LSUA joint tournament from March 27-30 just yet.

Alexandra Cedeno, Elizaveta Mikhailova, and Adjowa-Sika Geli all lead the team with three overall wins in singles play while Geli is the lone Cat above .500 at 3-2 (60%).

As a pair, Mikhailova and Geli have also recorded a trio of doubles victories while sporting a 3-1 record.

The Court Cats will try to improve to 3-0 against ranked opponents on the campaign when it plays its makeup match from February 16 on Friday against the Dillard Bleu Devils.

To view the entire poll, click here.