FLORENCE, Ala. (March 6, 2026) – The University of North Alabama women's tennis team stayed hot in dramatic fashion Friday afternoon with a 4-3 victory over Troy from the UNA Tennis Courts in Florence, Ala.
North Alabama (9-2) continued its unbeaten streak at home, but the Lions were tested from the first serve against Troy. UNA took the advantage first after a competitive doubles portion led to the Lions' doubles point. North Alabama dropped the first doubles match but victories on courts two and three secured the one-point lead.
The competition stayed high into singles play, coming down to the last match from court two. Junior Emma Ansorge fought back to rally from two-sets down to take the match and win over the Trojans.
Ansorge and freshman Sammie Schouten both tallied a singles and doubles to lead the team. Juniors Mathilde Delaney and Louise Booker registered a doubles win each and senior Senem Ocal was victorious from court six.
The first doubles match went in favor to Troy after Maria Guirguis and Valeriia Avdeeva defeated freshman Farah Assad and senior Eeva Ristola from court one, 6-2. Delaney and Ansorge put UNA on the board with a 6-2 win over Hiba Heni and Emilia Namyslo from court two. The third court needed a tiebreak to determine a winner, but Booker and Schouten held strong to beat Leena Metwally and Alexia Zarate from court three, 7-6 (7-4).
Schouten's momentum continued into singles, claiming the first win in a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Heni. Troy victories from courts one and four tied the dual score, but Ocal picked up a big win from court six in a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 triumph over Sama Hindawy. The Trojans answered back with an ensuing win from court three, setting up the deciding match between Ansorge and Metwally.
Ansorge dropped the first set, 6-4, but she did not go down without a fight after winning the second set, 6-4. Ansorge had to fight in the third, but she was able to complete a comeback after taking the third, 7-5. She trailed three games to five and even faced match point with Metwally leading 5-4, but the junior dug deep to win three-straight games towards the Lions' victory over Troy.
North Alabama 4, Troy 3
Doubles
1. Maria Guirguis/Valeriia Avdeeva (TROY) def. Farah Asaad/Eeva Ristola (UNA) 6-2
2. Mathilde Delaney/Emma Ansorge (UNA) def. Hiba Heni/Emilia Namyslo (TROY), 6-2
3. Louise Booker/Sammie Schouten (UNA) def. Leena Metwally/Alexia Zarate (TROY), 7(7)-6(4)
Singles
1. Maria Guirguis (TROY) def. Eeva Ristola (UNA), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
2. Emma Ansorge (UNA) def. Leena Metwally (TROY), 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
3. Valeriia Avdeeva (TROY) def. Mathilde Delaney (UNA), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. Alexia Zarate (TROY) def. Louise Booker (UNA), 6-4, 7(7)-6(3)
5. Sammie Schouten (UNA) def. Heni Hiba (TROY), 6-4, 6-3
6. Senem Ocal (UNA) def. Sama Hindawy (TROY), 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
Order of Finish – Doubles: (1,2,3) Singles (5,1,4,6,3,2)
Match Notes
North Alabama: 9-2
Troy: 4-6
COMING UP NEXT
UNA's home weekend continues on Sunday, March 8 with a 10 a.m. bout vs. FGCU at the UNA Tennis Courts.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
