MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Bethune-Cookman Women's Tennis concluded play in the first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Pod event of the 2024 season held at Olean Black Underwood Tennis Center, as the Wildcats suffered a 4-0 defeat to Alabama A&M on Sunday morning. The three-day event was hosted by Alabama State.
 
In doubles, Bethune-Cookman (0-9, 0-4 SWAC) had an opportunity to get on the scoreboard early-on but came up just short.
 
"Although the score shows 4-0, this was a much closer battle on the courts," commented Bethune-Cookman Head Coach Chris Wollett afterwards.
 
The No. 1 Wildcats duo of Janet Imbo Nloga and Tuhina Sambhus battled tough against Alabama A&M's team of Ntokozo Zungu and Ariadna Ondo Cerezo before dropping the match in top-flight action, 6-4. The doubles point was collected by the Bulldogs as the No. 3 doubles tandem of Hannah Nagpall and Sofia Sotelo Raya defeated the Cats' partnership of Loncey Elie and Courdeja Clark, 6-0.
 
At No. 2 doubles, BCU's team of Jalayah Shaw and Allexii Bassette had a 5-3 lead over Yana Dhamija and Alicia Owegi when the match went unfinished.
 
"With Allexii [Bassette] and Jalayah [Shaw] at the No. 2 doubles close to closing out the match, going down at No. 1 doubles was tough," continued Wollett. "We had chances, and if we learn from this situation, then we can take the doubles point."
 
In singles play, Alabama A&M (2-4, 2-1 SWAC) picked up the first point quickly at the No. 6 position when Bethune-Cookman's Courdeja Clark was defeated by the Bulldogs' Sofia Sotelo Raya in straight sets (6-0, 6-0).
 
The No. 5 position was also taken by the Bulldogs with a 6-0, 6-0 decision from Hannah Nagpall over BCU's Loncey Elie.
 
The decisive point for the Bulldogs was collected at the No. 1 spot as the Wildcats' Janet Imbo Nloga performed well for the fourth consecutive match in the top spot for the Maroon and Gold. But in the end, it was AAMU's Ntokozo Zungu taking the straight-set victory on scores of 6-0, 6-2, respectfully.
 
With the team outcome decided, the remaining singles matches went unfinished.
 
Alabama A&M's Gabrielle Henderson had won the first set 6-4 over Allexii Bassette at No. 4 singles before BCU's Bassette counterpunched to lead the second set 4-1 when the match went unfinished.
 
Wildcats freshman Tuhina Sambhus also battled the Bulldogs' No. 3 Alicia Owegi closely, with the opening set tied at 6-6 before play was halted.
 
"I was extremely proud of how we competed in singles today," stated Wollett. "I was really excited to see how Jalayah [Shaw], Tuhina [Sambhus] and Allexii [Bassette] were going to finish, but, unfortunately, that's not possible with the clinch-clinch format."
 
Bethune-Cookman returns to the courts Sunday, Feb. 25, when the Wildcats travel to Orlando to face UCF at 4 p.m.
 
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COMPLETE RESULTS
Singles Competition
1. Ntokozo Zungu (AAMU) def. Janet Imbo Nloga (BCUW) 6-0, 6-2
2. Yana Dhamija (AAMU) vs. Jalayah Shaw (BCUW) 0-6, 0-3, unfinished
3. Alicia Owegi (AAMU) vs. Tuhina Sambhus (BCUW) 6-6, unfinished
4. Gabrielle Henderson (AAMU) vs. Allexii Bassette (BCUW) 6-4, 1-4, unfinished
5. Hannah Nagpall (AAMU) def. Loncey Elie (BCUW) 6-0, 6-0
6. Sofia Sotelo Raya (AAMU) def. Courdeja Clark (BCUW) 6-0, 6-0
 
Doubles Competition
1. Ntokozo Zungu/Ariadna Ondo Cerezo (AAMU) def. Janet Imbo Nloga/Tuhina Sambhus (BCUW) 6-4
2. Yana Dhamija/Alicia Owegi (AAMU) vs. Jalayah Shaw/Allexii Bassette (BCUW) 3-5, unfinished
3. Hannah Nagpall/Sofia Sotelo Raya (AAMU) def. Loncey Elie/Courdeja Clark (BCUW) 6-0