ROME, Ga. (May 6, 2026) – The University of North Alabama women's tennis team advanced to its first UTR Sports NIT Championship Final on Wednesday, securing its first all-time Power Four victory in a 4-3 semifinal triumph over Big 12 opponent Kansas State in Rome, Ga.
The fourth-seeded Lions will face either third seed Arkansas State or seventh seed Charleston for the championship title on Thursday, May 7 at 8 a.m. CT.
North Alabama (17-6) secured its ticket to the tournament final but made program history with the massive win over the top-seeded Wildcats.
Women's Tennis had played Power Four opponents 25 times since 1975 but never had UNA conquered a Power Four foe until today. The Lions also never scored more than one team point in previous bouts against Power Four competition. UNA took one point three times in action against Mississippi State (1990, 2022) and Auburn (2025).
The Lions started the dual strong by sweeping the doubles bouts. Senior Eeva Ristola and junior Louise Booker took court one with a dominant 6-1 win over the Wildcat's Maralgoo Chogsomjav and Martaa Chogsomjav. Freshmen duo Farah Asaad and Sammie Schouten confirmed UNA's doubles win after a stellar 6-2 victory from court three against Diana Smolinska and Mallory Renfro.
Similar to doubles, North Alabama claimed the first two singles wins thanks to senior Senem Ocal and Booker. Ocal blanked Addison Renfro on court six with a perfect 6-0, 6-0 victory. Booker doubled her win total with a 6-0, 6-1 singles win from court five over Zhanel Rustemova.
Kansas State did not go down without a fight, answering with three straight singles victories on courts one, three and four.
The Wildcats made it a true duel with the rally, but junior Emma Ansorge all but ended the comeback after taking a victory from court two. The German earned her 16th singles win of the campaign defeating Varvara Bernovich, 6-4, 6-2.
North Alabama 4, Kansas State 3
Doubles
1. Eeva Ristola/Louise Booker (UNA) def. Maralgoo Chogsomjav/Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU), 6-1
2. Emma Ansorge/Mathilde Delaney (UNA) vs. Varvara Bernovich/Zhanel Rustemova (KSU), 4-3, unfinished
3. Farah Asaad/Sammie Schouten (UNA) def. Diana Smolinska/Mallory Renfro (KSU), 6-2
Singles
1. Maralgoo Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Eeva Ristola (UNA), 6-4, 6-4
2. Emma Ansorge (UNA) def. Varvara Bernovich (KSU), 6-4, 6-2
3. Martaa Chogsomjav (KSU) def. Mathilde Delaney (UNA), 6-3, 6-4
4. Diana Smolinksa (KSU) def. Sammie Schouten (UNA), 6-4, 6-3
5. Louise Booker (UNA) def. Zhanel Rustemova (KSU), 6-0, 6-1
6. Senem Ocal (UNA) def. Addison Renfro (KSU), 6-0, 6-0
Match Notes
North Alabama: 17-6
Kansas State: 9-14
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
