Cyclones women's tennis had an exciting run at the NJCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship in Tyler, Texas, May 3-5, ending the tournament in 25th place overall.
MAY 3
The team kicked off the first day with determination and grit under the blazing sun. While the day presented some tough matchups, they showed resilience across the board.
In singles play, Breanne Schultz took on Mesa College at the No. 1 spot. After dropping the first set 2-6, she showed fight in the second, taking an early 2-0 lead before ultimately falling 2-6. At No. 2, Johann Laran faced a strong opponent from Jones College, ending with a 0-6, 0-6 loss. Allyson English, playing No. 3 singles against Northwest Mississippi College, faced consistent pressure, concluding her match 0-6, 0-6. At No. 4, Maya Morris also squared off against Jones College, battling through a 2-6, 0-6 loss. Zaina Daghash put up a strong first set at the No. 5 spot against Hinds College, narrowly falling 4-6 before dropping the second 1-6.
The highlight of the day came from No. 6 singles player Gabriela Dabrowski, who delivered a standout performance against Hinds College. She edged out a tight first set 7-5, fell in the second 3-6, then powered through the third set 6-2, securing the Cyclones' only singles win of the day. Her perseverance and stamina in the heat were a bright spot for the team.
In doubles play, at No. 1 Schultz and Laran teamed up against Hinds College but were defeated 0-6, 0-6. English and Morris played a competitive match at No. 2 against Mercer County, showing moments of momentum despite a 2-6, 0-6 result. Daghash and Dabrowski closed out the doubles lineup against Meridian College, improving in the second set before finishing 1-6, 4-6.
MAY 4
Day two began with Dabrowski kicking things off at No. 6 singles in the first bracket against a strong opponent from Cowley College. Despite her effort, she fell 0-6, 0-6.
Schultz battled through the heat and fought hard in a long, intense match against McHenry County College. It was a tight set, but she came out on top with a 9-7 victory —an impressive win that showed her grit and determination. Morris faced a tough opponent from Mississippi and lost the set 0-6. Laran played against Southwestern Illinois and finished with a score of 2-6.
MAY 5
In their final day of competition, the Cyclones pushed through more challenges.
Schultz started the day strong with an 8-4 singles win against Mercer County Community College, advancing to the semifinals in the second bracket. English faced Southwestern Illinois College in a tight battle, narrowly losing in a tiebreak 7-9. Daghash played Mesa College and fell short in a competitive 6-8 match.
In doubles, Schultz and Laran faced Wallace State but lost 0-8. English and Morris also lost 0-8 against Mesa College. Daghash and Dabrowski played Coastal Alabama, falling 3-8. In singles consolation semifinals, Schultz later faced Southwestern Illinois but lost 1-8. She advanced farther than any other Cyclone.
In the end, the Cyclones finished 25th out of 30 teams, including two other Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference teams.
"The tournament was a learning experience on many levels. From a performance standpoint, we showed moments of grit and talent, and I'm proud of the players who competed and represented our school. From a team culture standpoint, we faced challenges. This generation brings a different mindset, and as a coach, I had to navigate how to connect, communicate and lead through that," said Head Coach Simona Tomczak. "This tournament reminded me that growth isn't just about wins or losses, it's about learning how to show up for one another, push through tension and commit to something bigger than yourself. We've got room to grow, and that's okay. I'm hopeful the team walks away from this with a stronger sense of what it truly means to be part of one."
