Elizaveta Mikhailova of Louisiana Christian ranks nationally

TEMPE, Ariz. (WNTZ) — Despite being left out of the NAIA Tournament field, the No. 22 Louisiana Christian University women’s tennis team ended its historic season with a notable accolade: junior Elizaveta Mikhailova has made her debut in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s national rankings.

Mikhailova, a native of Moscow, Russia, was ranked No. 73 in the ITA national standings released April 24, earning 8.07 points. She finished the season with an 11-6 overall singles record, going a perfect 4-0 in Red River Athletic Conference play under head coach Anastasiia Starkova.

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A former standout at Bethel University (Ind.), Mikhailova’s season was highlighted by a signature win in the regular-season finale, upsetting No. 26 Kanu Rajawat of ninth-ranked LSU Alexandria in three sets (6-1, 4-6, 6-3). It marked her first victory over a nationally ranked opponent.

Her other victories this season included wins over Lidia Gomez (LSU Shreveport, twice), Ely Laure Ah-Sou (Our Lady of the Lake), Sophie Sisson (Copiah-Lincoln CC), Sara Parpinal (Mobile), Hana Moss (Xavier-Louisiana), Daniela Rodriguez (Hinds CC), Millie Galazno (Belhaven), and Maike Tiemersan (LSUS in the RRAC Quarterfinals).

Louisiana Christian wrapped up the year with a 12-10 record (3-2 RRAC), marking the program’s first winning season in the modern era—and possibly ever—while also earning its first-ever NAIA Top 25 ranking.