LYNCHBURG, Va. — FIU's women's tennis program's quest for a three-peat began on Thursday afternoon with a 4-0 sweep of New Mexico State at the Conference USA (CUSA) Championships.
The Panthers have now won seven-straight matches at the CUSA Tournament as they hunt for a third-consecutive CUSA title. FIU picked up the doubles point in convincing fashion and rolled through singles play with three victories, dropping just one set combined among the six courts.
Valery Gynina, the 2024 CUSA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, continued her impressive postseason form with a doubles clinch at No. 2, alongside partner Ekaterina Khairutdinova. Gynina cruised through singles play as well, defeating her opponent, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3 singles. The sophomore from Moscow, Russia's singles win was the first of the day for FIU, putting the Panthers ahead 2-0 in the match.
Gallery: (4-17-2025) Tennis CUSA QFs vs. NM State | 4.17.25
Katerina Mandelikova also secured two victories on the day, winning 6-2 with Oyinlomo Quadre at No. 1 doubles before downing her opponent at No. 4 singles in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. With the match score 3-0 in FIU's favor, Petja Drame secured the clinch and sweep with a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 5 singles.
UP NEXT
FIU will take on fifth-seeded and host-Liberty in a rematch of the 2024 CUSA Tournament Championship at 10 a.m. on Friday morning. Live stats will be available via fiusports.com/TennisStats and live video will be aired on ESPN+.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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