ORLANDO - B-CU Tennis gets back to work Saturday as they take on No. 24 Florida State at the USTA National Campus in Orlando. First serve is set for 4 p.m.



The Wildcats dropped a 7-0 decision against Stetson at nearby Mandy Stoll Tennis Center on Monday in the opening match of the 2025 spring season for the Wildcats.
 
Doubles action began with Stetson  taking all three positions.
 
Bethune-Cookman used the team of Zahara El-Zein and Keona Burley at the No. 2 doubles spot, as the Wildcats tandem grabbed a game before falling in the end to the team of Audelie Lesauvage and Elicia Kim, 6-1. At the No. 1 position, B-CU's Allexii Bassette and Jalayah Shaw dropped a 6-0 match to Stetson's Cheri Darley and Alanna DiFrancesco.

"For the 1st match of the season, I thought the team played well," head coach Chris Wollett said. "We showed lots of positive energy in doubles and that's something we can build on this season."
 
In singles play, the Hatters once again collected all positions.
 
Shaw saw action back at the No. 1 spot for the Cats, performing well in a 6-3, 6-3 loss to the Hatters' Katsiaryna Tuliakova. B-CU newcomer Zahara El-Zein took two games in her opening set from DiFrancesco, as she then fell 6-2, 6-0 at the No. 2 singles position.

"Stetson is a high level tennis program and the team fought hard on each singles court, Wollett said. "Although the scores didn't go our way, I feel there's a lot of positivity to develop in our singles play."
 



Florida State is 2-0 on the season, with both wins coming over Alabama State, 4-0. The Noles finished the 2024 season 17-9, including an ACC Championship semifinals berth and a trip to the second-round of the NCAA Championships. 

They started the fall by securing three doubles victories at the ITA All-American Championships. The Seminoles then competed at the ITA Southeast Regional Championships winning 13 matches collectively. At the UNF Invitational, Mary Boyce Deatherage and Maelie Monfils went undefeated in singles and were champions of their respective singles flights. Cade Cricchio and Tina Li also were perfect to win their flight in doubles. The Noles ended their fall season at the ITA Conference Masters Championships.