LMU Women's Tennis Team Concludes Season with Semifinal Appearance The Loyola Marymount University (LMU) women's tennis team concluded its 2026 season with a semifinal appearance in the West Coast Conference (WCC) Women's Tennis Tournament, falling to top-seeded Pepperdine, 4-0, at the Green Valley Country Club in Fairfield, Calif. The loss marked the end of a campaign that saw the Lions secure a 12-10 overall record, highlighted by key conference victories and a deep run in the postseason tournament. Pepperdine seized control of the match early in doubles play, claiming both courts one and two to establish an immediate 1-0 lead. The Waves secured the first point with a dominant 6-0 victory on court one, followed by a 6-2 win on court two. The third doubles match remained unfinished at the time of the clinch, with LMU holding a narrow edge. This momentum carried over into singles play, where Pepperdine extended its lead with decisive wins. Sonja Zhiyenbayeva of Pepperdine secured the Waves’ second point with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Kim-Michaela Zahraj on court three. Pepperdine then closed out the match with back-to-back singles wins, starting with Chantal Sauvant’s 6-4, 6-1 triumph at the No. 4 position. Duru Soke completed the sweep with a 6-2, 6-4 win on court five, sealing the 4-0 result. Despite the loss, LMU’s performance throughout the tournament showcased resilience. Several matches remained competitive but unfinished at the time of the clinch. Lidia Gonzalez battled on court one after dropping a tight opening set, while Ada Piestrzynska pushed her match into a third set on court two. Camilia Samel-Druz also remained in a closely contested match at No. 6 when play was halted.#west_coast_conference #lmu #pepperdine #green_valley_country_club #fairfield_calif
