DELAND, Fla. - For the second time in the last three weeks, the Wildcats will take on Stetson in nearby DeLand as they look to build off their first win of the season last weekend against Edward Waters. 



Under the direction of Head Coach Chris Wollett, Bethune-Cookman Women's Tennis captured its first win of the 2025 soring season Saturday afternoon, as the Wildcats took down in-state opponent Edward Waters by a score of 7-0 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida.

Bethune-Cookman took control of the match early-on claiming two-of-three doubles positions in order to grab the 1-0 advantage heading into singles play.
 
Playing in its first match of the spring campaign and despite being short-handed with just four players, Edward Waters managed to claim one win.
 
In the No. 1 doubles match, EWU's pair of Aalisha Alexis and Giulia Peres upset B-CU's duo of Allexii Bassette and Jalayah Shaw with a 6-4 victory. However, the Wildcats' tandem of newcomer Zahara El-Zein and returning letterwinner Keona Burley responded with a 6-0 win at the No. 2 position over Lara Viehrig and Nadja Dzetelovic.
 
The No. 3 doubles match was awarded to B-CU's Lesa Snipes-Williams and Anne Cerne by forfeit.
 
In singles play, the Wildcats swept all six courts.
 
At the top singles position, Shaw set the tone for B-CU with a convincing 6-2, 6-1 victory over Edward Waters' Alexis. El-Zein followed with a strong performance on court two, defeating EWU's Peres 6-1, 6-2.
 
Bassette topped Viehrig 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 3 spot, while teammate Burley recorded the most dominant result of the day at No. 4 singles with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of Dzetelovic. Just as in doubles play, B-CU's Snipes-Williams and Cerne were awarded victories at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively, due to forfeits.




Stetson Women's Tennis entered the spring as defending ASUN Champions, defeating both Austin Peay and Florida Gulf Coast, 4-1, on the way to the Hatters' second ASUN title in three years. The Hatters went on to fall to #14 Florida, 4-0 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Gainesville. 

The Hatters have looked the part of defending champs early in the season, defeating Kennesaw State, South Carolina State, and USF in three matches since last meeting with B-CU. 

The Hatters defeated the Wildcats, 7-0, back on Jan. 20. Only Jalayah Shaw and Zahara El-Zein were able to take games off Stetson, dropping 6-6, 6-3, and 6-2, 6-0 decisions, respectively.