DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Women's Tennis finished up play at the Stetson Invite #1 event over the weekend at Mandy Stoll Tennis Center on the campus of Stetson University in nearby DeLand, Florida. The two-day tournament featured mixed doubles and singles matches against opponents in a fall format Friday, Sept. 26 and Saturday, Sept. 27.
 
On Friday, Bethune-Cookman opened with doubles and singles matches against host Stetson.
 
In doubles action the B-CU team of Jalayah Shaw and Zahara El-Zein were upended by the Hatters combination of Katsiaryna Tuliakova and Anastasija Adeikyte, 6-2. Stetson's Yuki Mizuguchi and Clelia Lombardi then fought past B-CU's duo of newcomers Madison Molock and Taylor O'Neal, 6-2.
 
In singles against the Hatters, the Wildcats' best match came with Molock taking on Lombardi. The Stetson No. 3 defeated Molock 6-3, 6-1. O'Neal eventually fell to Mizuguchi 6-1, 6-1.
 
In a mixed match alongside Stetson on day two, Shaw played tough despite a 6-0, 6-3 setback against Pimmada Lim of Southern Miss.
 
"All-in-all, I was happy with the performance of the Wildcats this weekend," commented Head Coach Chris Wollett. "The level of the Stetson Invite was a bit higher than last weekend in Atlanta, but the team competed well."
 
Molock and Shaw and paired together in the final doubles match of the weekend against Lynn, falling to the team of Paula Garcia and Hailey Lizano 6-4 in the end.
 
"The team four hard versus some tough opponents along with battling some injuries," continued Wollett. "We had to mix up some of the doubles teams and work with new combinations. But that's going to help prepare for the spring season, without a doubt."
 
Shaw was strong for the Wildcats in singles play against the Knights, turning in the Wildcats only singles victory of the weekend, as the junior from Plant City, Florida took a 6-1, 6-0 decision from Brooke Distasio.
 
"Jalayah [Shaw] played well and was dominant over the Lynn opponent at what would be No. 5 singles. On Saturday," remarked Wollett. "Going into her junior year, I'm really excited to watch her compete this fall season."
 
Bethune-Cookman next competes in the SWAC Fall Tournament in Huntsville, Alabama taking place October 3-5 on the campus of Alabama A&M.
 
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