MOBILE, Ala. – Southeastern University's season run came to an end Thursday, as No. 13-ranked Xavier University of Louisiana edged the Fire 4-2 in the second round of the NAIA Women's Tennis National Championship. Two tight three-set singles matches swung in favor of the Gold Nuggets, ending SEU's 2025 campaign.
Doubles play set the tone for the competitive match. With the teams tied 1-1, Xavier's top duo of Mbali Langa and McKenna Wheatley outlasted SEU's Carlotta Nonnis Marzano and Irene Lopez in a tense tiebreak, winning 7-6 (7-5) to claim the opening point.
SEU quickly responded in singles. Isabella Forcella received a win by forfeit at No. 6, and Lopez cruised past Sania Lasure at No. 2 singles with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 performance to give the Fire a 2-1 lead.
XULA, however, rallied with three consecutive singles victories to clinch the match. No. 63 Langa prevailed in a three-set battle over No. 43 Bolivar Garces at No. 3. After splitting the first two sets (6-2, 4-6), Langa closed strong with another 6-2 final set.
Wheatley, ranked No. 53, pushed Xavier ahead for good with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Irene Parigi at No. 4. The clincher came at the top singles spot, where No. 4 Amira Bergaoui edged No. 8 Nonnis Marzano in a top-10 showdown. Bergaoui took the first set in a tiebreak 7-6 (7-5), dropped the second 6-4, but rebounded with a commanding 6-1 third set to seal the match.
Alessia Ciampi was leading 4-1 in the third set at No. 5 singles when the match was halted after Xavier clinched.
In doubles, SEU earned a forfeit win at No. 3, but the Gold Nuggets took No. 2 doubles 6-3 over Garces and Parigi, while the decisive No. 1 tiebreak win tipped the match in Xavier's favor.
Southeastern finishes the 2025 season at 18-8 and made its fourth consecutive NAIA National Tournament appearance, continuing to establish itself among the best programs in the NAIA.
