ATLANTA – The Wildcats' first competitive action of the season is in the books, as Bethune-Cookman put together multiple strong performances at the HBCU National Championships in Atlanta. The Wildcats were especially strong in doubles play, advancing multiple doubles teams into the later rounds of their respective flights.

In Flight A doubles, Zahara El-Zein and Jalayah Shaw opened the tournament with a dominant 6-0 victory over Grambling's Ja'Liyah Bradford and Trinity Hope. Maria Romero Vargas and Roselida Asumwa dropped their opening match to Oihane Villanueva Lopez and Jennyar Elbakary of Alcorn State 6-2. El-Zein and Shaw then advanced to the quarterfinals before falling 6-2 to Alabama State's Alexia Campagna and Cleanne Pickel.

Bethune-Cookman also produced a strong showing in Flight B doubles. Newcomer Marissa Alexander teamed with Alabama A&M's Lavynia Sa to advance past Jackson State's Mariia Iordanova and Alabama State's Rim Assanhaji, winning 7-6 (7-5) in the Round of 16 before falling 6-4 to Alcorn's Amelia Tatafu and Zoe Crimmel in the quarterfinals.

Madison Molock and Taylor O'Neal advanced the furthest of any B-CU doubles team. The duo defeated Norfolk State's Ines Sabadie and Kayla Kennedy, 7-6 (7-4), in the Round of 16 before earning another tiebreak victory in the quarterfinals, defeating Howard's Lyric Wilson and Chloe Goins, 7-6 (7-2). Molock and O'Neal's run came to an end in the semifinals, where they fell 7-5 to Alabama State's Liou Souplet-Guerne and Kesmat El Tawil.

In singles competition, Roselida Asumwa earned B-CU's lone Flight A singles win, defeating Grambling's Emmory Simmons, 6-0, 6-3, in the Round of 32 before falling to Alabama State's Kesmat El Tawil, 6-0, 6-0, in the Round of 16.

Taylor O'Neal split the first two sets with Xavier (La.)'s Mia Edwards, 3-6, 6-1, before falling 10-8 in the deciding tiebreak.

Bethune-Cookman's other singles competitors included Maria Romero Vargas, Zahara El-Zein, Jalayah Shaw, and Madison Molock, who each competed in the opening rounds of their respective flights.
 

The fall schedule continues with the SWAC Fall Tournament, which takes place on October 2nd and 3rd in Jackson, Mississippi.
 
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