Xavier emerges victorious in the RRAC Women's Tennis Championship

WACO, Texas (April 18, 2026) – Third-seed Xavier University of Louisiana swept top-seed LSU Alexandria this afternoon to win the 2026 RRAC Women's Tennis Championship. XULA, the tournament host, defeated LSUA 4-0. XULA will receive an automatic bid to the 45th Annual NAIA Women's National Championships, held May 12-15 at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala. Other qualifiers and seedings will be announced on April 28.

 

No. 3 doubles, Esthella Valentina Gonzalez Saiza and Isabella Stuurman from LSUA, defeated Valeria Ortega and Asadah Ma'at 6-2. At No. 2 doubles, Makai Sales and Ana Sabikova from XULA defeated Valeria Diaz and Ekaterina Orlova 6-3. In the No. 1 doubles match, XULA's Maja Brnic and McKenna Wheatley (ranked fourth in the ITA) topped Lucie Ivanova and Nahia Echaide 7-5.

 

No. 2 singles saw XULA's Wheatley (ranked 23rd in the ITA) defeat LSUA's Stuurman (ranked 11th in the NAIA), 7-6 (7-4), 6-0. In No. 3 singles, XULA's Sabikova (ranked 13th in the ITA) won over LSUA's Ivanova (ranked 34th in the NAIA) 6-0, 6-2. At No. 6 singles, Ma'at from XULA beat Saiza 6-4, 6-1. Matches between Echaide (ranked 12th in the ITA) and Brnic (ranked ninth in the NAIA) stood at 6-2, 0-6 before going unfinished, while the contest between LSUA's Joline Roesch and XULA's Ortega also was unfinished, with Roesch leading 6-3.

 

Highlighting individual achievements, Echaide from LSUA earned RRAC Player of the Year and was named to the All-Conference First Team for the second consecutive year.

 

Similarly, XULA's Sabikova was recognized as Newcomer of the Year and earned RRAC All-Conference Second Team honors. Teammate Brnic received RRAC Freshman of the Year and All-Conference First Team honors.

 

XULA Head Coach Alan Green, who has led the tennis team for 23 years, received RRAC Coach of the Year honors.

 

XULA, ranked No. 6 in the NAIA and No. 2 in the ITA, reached the championship match after defeating Texas A&M-Texarkana 4-0 in the quarterfinals and then Louisiana Christian 4-0 in the semifinal match. The Gold Nuggets now hold an 18-7 record.

 

Meanwhile, LSUA, who advanced straight to the semifinals, defeated Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) 4-0. The Generals, ranked No. 8 in the NAIA and No. 14 in the ITA, conclude their season with an 11-4 record.