EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Southeast Missouri Tennis team battled at the OVC Fall Tournament 

The three-day tournament saw six SEMO athletes play matches in the main draw, along with consolation matches.

A-Flight Singles

The singles play began with Maja Bajorek and Sofia Zemtsova setting a defiant tone in the first round. Bajorek dropped the first set against Margaux Guibal Britt (SIUE) 4-6, but refused to concede, roaring back 6-4 to force a decisive tiebreaker, which she clinched 1-0 (10-8). Zemtsova's match was equally tense; after losing a first-set tiebreak 6-7 (3), she rallied 6-4 and then showed nerves of steel to win the super tiebreaker 1-0 (10-5) against Michelle Trochez (LIN). Bajorek maintained her momentum in the next round, securing a swift 6-3, 6-2 victory over Fabriana Labroador (LIN).

However, the competition stiffened in the later stages. Zemtsova was halted by Elena Paliouira (SIUE) in straight sets, 4-6, 0-6. Bajorek's tournament run then came to an end in the main draw with a 1-6, 2-6 loss to Yahli Noy (BRYANT). In her first match, Kristina Kozakova was stopped early by Jessica Li (SIUE), 4-6, 2-6, and after a win in the consolation bracket, her tournament ended with a 1-6, 4-6 loss to Richardlyne Francois (WIU).

B-Flight Singles

Mia Mayerova was a pillar of consistency in the B Flight, starting with a 6-2, 7-6 (6) win over Natalie Walsh (TSU). She then faced her own pivotal match against Megan Caffin (LIN), battling through a 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8) tiebreaker victory to advance. Mayerova's impressive momentum was finally broken in the tournament, where she fell to Stefaniya Anikina (SIUE), 3-6, 2-6.

Yontha Tadoum also delivered a memorable comeback in the consolation, shaking off a demoralizing 0-6 first set against Jessica Hess (WIU) to take the second 6-4, eventually sealing the match in the tiebreaker 1-0 (10-3). Earlier, Tadoum had narrowly lost a two-set decision to Stefaniya Anikina (SIUE), 3-6, 5-7.

C-Flight Singles

The C Flight showcased the tournament's most resilient narrative: Claudia Casas. After an early loss to Denver Johnson (WIU), 2-6, 3-6, Casas embarked on a dramatic run through the consolation bracket. She won her first two consolation matches in thrilling three-set tiebreaks: first against Aisha Merchant (LIN), 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-8), and then against Lily Meyer (USI), 6-2, 7-5, 1-0 (11-9). Casas capped her comeback by taking consolation bracket with a confident 7-6 (5), 6-0 straight-sets victory over Emerson Metzger (SIUE).

Doubles

SEMO's doubles teams started with immediate success in the A-Flight: Bajorek and Mayerova defeated Rylie Wilkison and Lily Meyer (USI) 6-3, while Zemtsova and Kozakova matched that result with a 6-3 win over Megan Caffin and Sofija Dunisijevic (LIN). However, both teams saw their runs end in the next round. Bajorek and Mayerova fell 2-6 to the Bryant pairing of Yahli Noy and Laura Stypula, and Zemtsova and Kozakova lost 3-6 to Mana Fawcett and Nour Gueblaoui (WIU).

The Redhawks will return to the courts Friday and Saturday when they travel to Springfield to participate in the Missouri State Fall Invitational.