TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (January 19, 2026) – The University of North Alabama women's tennis team landed its first win of 2026 on Monday in a 4-2 triumph over Arkansas State in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

North Alabama (1-1) completed its first-ever victory over Arkansas State (0-2) neutral site action. The bout began competitively in doubles play as both teams split the opening two doubles matches. The deciding match saw UNA clinch the doubles point with a top-flight win by senior Eeva Ristola and freshman Farah Asaad.

The teams continued the competitive affair in singles as both claimed two wins in the first four matches. Wins on courts four and six from Arkansas State were matched by UNA triumphs on courts two and five. Ristola played the hero from the top flight as her three-set win won UNA's first dual of the new year.

Five different Lions were victorious with two registering both singles and doubles wins.

Ristola and junior Emma Ansorge went 2-0 as both won their respective singles and doubles bouts. No. 104 ranked Mathilde Delaney, a junior, won a doubles match with Ansorge, and Asaad's doubles victory with Ristola won UNA the doubles point. Junior Louise Booker was the fifth Lion earning a win with her first singles victory of the season.

The Red Wolves struck first to start in doubles, as Hammare McAslin and Sarah Millard beat UNA's Booker and freshman Sammie Schouten from court three, 6-3. North Alabama responded on court two with Ansorge and Delaney defeating Helena Bueno and Anna Grigoreva, 6-3.

The final doubles match needed a tiebreak, but the Lions prevailed with Ristola and Asaad downing Lilly Cvancigar and Carla Muro Castellvi, 7-6 (7-4).

Arkansas State also claimed the first singles match of the dual, but a quick UNA response resulted in Booker beating Castellvi from court five, 6-3, 6-4. The Red Wolves tied the team score with an ensuing court four win.

North Alabama's Ansorge ended her day unbeaten with her hard-fought, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) triumph from court two over Cvancigar. The Lions earned the fourth and final team point in a three-set battle from the top flight.

Ristola and Arkansas State's Grigoreva both secured 6-2 set wins with Ristola winning set one and Grigoreva taking the second. Ristola found another gear to see out the Lions win, taking the third set, 6-1.


North Alabama 4, Arkansas State 2_­­­­­­­_­­­­

Doubles

1. Eeva Ristola/Farah Asaad (UNA) def. Lilly Cvancigar/Carla Muro Castellvi (ASU), 7(7)-6(3)
2. Emma Ansorge/Mathilde Delaney (UNA) def. Helena Bueno/Anna Grigoreva (ASU), 6-3
3. Hammare McAslin/Sarah Millard (ASU) def. Louise Booker/Sammie Schouten (UNA), 6-3

Singles

1. Eeva Ristola (UNA) def. Anna Grigoreva (ASU), 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
2. Emma Ansorge (UNA) def. Lilly Cvanciger (ASU), 6-4, 7(7)-6(4)
3. Hanmare McAslin (ASU) vs. Mathilde Delaney (UNA), 6-1, 6(4)-7(7), 3-1, unfinished
4. Helena Bueno (ASU) def. Sammie Schouten (UNA), 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
5. Louise Booker (UNA) def. Carla Muro Castellvi (ASU), 6-3, 6-4
6. Meghna Arun Kumar (ASU) def. Farah Asaad (UNA), 6-0, 7(7)-6(5)


Match Notes

North Alabama: 1-1
Arkansas State: 0-2

Order of Finish – Doubles (3,2,1) Singles (6,5,4,2,1)


COMING UP NEXT

UNA is back on the road Friday, Jan. 30 to take on Samford at 1 p.m. in Birmingham, Ala.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.