ATLANTA – Bethune-Cookman Women's Tennis enjoyed a positive start to the 2024-25 campaign as the Wildcats took part in the 23rd Annual HBCU National Championships at South Fulton Tennis Center. The event took place September 19-22, in Atlanta, Georgia.
 
Under the direction of Head Coach Chris Wollett, entering just his second full season at the helm in Daytona Beach, Bethune-Cookman fielded a doubles team and two singles players in this year's edition of the HBCU National Championships.
 
In doubles play, the team of Allexii Bassette and Jalayah Shaw advanced to the Round of 16 in "Flight A" – marking the furthest the Wildcats have advanced at the HBCU National Championships for doubles play in more than three years. Bassette and Shaw defeated the Spring Hill College duo of Emma Pager and Paola Marin, 6-4 in the Round of 32.
 
"I'm very proud of the doubles team of Jalayah [Shaw] and Allexii [Bassette] in their flight," said Wollett afterwards. "At one point, they were up 5-2, and their opponents got some momentum and brought it back to 5-4. It was a great effort on their part to stay mentally focused and close out the match."
 
In the Round of 16, it would be Delaware State's tandem of Melisa Mekic and Diana Craciun defeating the B-CU duo, 6-1.
 
The Bethune-Cookman doubles team of Zahara El-Zein and Keona Burley competed in "Flight B", falling to Jackson State's team of Zeina Shaaban and Kayleigh Didderiens, 6-0.
 
As for the singles portion of the tournament, Shaw fell to Kit Yi Kaye Au-Yeung (Delaware State) in the main draw of "Flight A" during the round of 32 in straight sets – 6-2, 6-1. Newcomer El-Zein would drop a 6-4, 6-3 straight-set decision to Meiri Okuwaki (Hampton).
 
"Both Jalayah and Zahara [El-Zein] had tough first round singles matches as they faced seeded opponents," continued Wollett. "Being the first tournament of the fall season, I think they both were feeling some nerves. But all credit due to their opponents as they were high-level competitors."
 
Shaw and El-Zein would drop their "Flight A" qualifying matches for the consolation round of 16, with El-Zein – a native of Zimbabwe, walking over with injury allowing Alcorn State's Oihane Villanueva-Lopez the win.
 
In the main draw of "Flight C", Burley was eventually outlasted in a sensational three-set match against Carmene Kpadonou (Benedict) on scores of 6-2, 4-6, 3-10. Newcomer Lesa Snipes-Williams for the Wildcats, a transfer from State College of Florida-Manatee, in her round of 32 match by Morgan State's Stefania Moysiadi – 6-0, 6-1.
 
"Keona had some tough battles in both of her singles matches losing the tiebreaks in each," added Wollett. "Although these are tough, close losses, I feel she's going to learn a lot from them and, hopefully, use this experience when the spring season comes around."
 
Burley suffered another heartbreaking loss in her next match, a 9-8 (7) decision in the consolation qualifying round of 32 in "Flight C", falling to Claudia Murdasanu (Tennessee State). As for Snipes-Williams, she fell 8-0 to Tuskegee's Kialani Mills in her consolation draw round of 16 match of "Flight C" play as well.
 
"Lesa [Snipes-Williams] is the newest addition to the team," stated Wollett. "So, I really didn't know what to expect out of her in a tournament environment. Her first round match, she looked a bit nervous, but I was very happy with the areas of improvement she quickly showed in her second match. Being somewhat of a beginner, I feel she has tons of potential. Once she puts in the hours of training on the court, I feel her level will rise drastically by the end of the fall semester."
 
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