Friday, January 16
Auburn, Ala.
6:30 PM ET/5:30 PM CT
Liberty University
6
vs
1
Western Carolina
Women’s Tennis Triumphant in Spring Opener Over Catamounts
1/16/2026 11:32:00 PM | Women's Tennis
AUBURN, Ala. – Liberty showed fight and grit throughout its 6-1 win over Western Carolina to kick off the spring season on Friday night. The neutral site match was played in Auburn, Ala., at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
The Lady Flames picked up a quick doubles point with victories on courts three and two. Liberty battled through adversity to pick up a doubles sweep with a 7-6 (2) triumph on court one.
Redshirt junior Daniella O'Neill dominated with a 45-minute sweep over Keira Stewart in the No. 3 singles match.
Freshman Milana Tsulygina picked up a swift 6-1, 6-2 win in her Liberty debut over Axelle Van Beurden in the No. 5 singles position.
Celina Joseph followed the freshman moments after, securing the match-clinching fourth point with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Hokualohi Lui in the No.6 singles match. The match continued playing out.
Western Carolina picked up its first triumph in the No. 1 singles match. Yoanna Radulova fell to Mariya Dobreva 6-4, 6-2.
Liberty responded as transfer addition, Candy Wai, picked up her first Liberty spring triumph with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Mia Miranda on court four.
The final match featured Maria Turchetto who battled back from a 4-0 first-set deficit to take the first set 7-5. Taking on Jennelle Roberts, the two went back-and-forth in the second set.
Liberty 6, Western Carolina 1
Singles Competition
1. Mariya Dobreva (WCU) def. Yoanna Radulova (LIBERTYW) 6-4, 6-2
2. Maria Turchetto (LIBERTYW) def. Jenelle Roberts (WCU) 7-5, 6-4
3. Daniella O'Neill (LIBERTYW) def. Keira Stewart (WCU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Candy Wai (LIBERTYW) def. Mia Miranda (WCU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Milana Tsulygina (LIBERTYW) def. Axelle Van Beurden (WCU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Celina Joseph (LIBERTYW) def. Zoe Lui (WCU) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. Yoanna Radulova/Maria Turchetto (LIBERTYW) def. Mariya Dobreva/Mia Miranda (WCU) 7-6 (7-2)
2. Daniella O'Neill/Milana Tsulygina (LIBERTYW) def. Keira Stewart/Jenelle Roberts (WCU) 6-2
3. Celina Joseph/Candy Wai (LIBERTYW) def. Zoe Lui/Axelle Van Beurden (WCU) 6-1
Western Carolina 0-2
Liberty 1-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,5,6,1,4,2)
Lady Flames News & Notes
Up Next
Liberty takes on No. 4 Auburn (4-0) on Sunday at 11 AM ET/10 AM CT. The match from the Yarbrough Tennis Center in Auburn, Ala., will be streamed live via PlaySight.
The Lady Flames picked up a quick doubles point with victories on courts three and two. Liberty battled through adversity to pick up a doubles sweep with a 7-6 (2) triumph on court one.
Redshirt junior Daniella O'Neill dominated with a 45-minute sweep over Keira Stewart in the No. 3 singles match.
Freshman Milana Tsulygina picked up a swift 6-1, 6-2 win in her Liberty debut over Axelle Van Beurden in the No. 5 singles position.
Celina Joseph followed the freshman moments after, securing the match-clinching fourth point with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Hokualohi Lui in the No.6 singles match. The match continued playing out.
Western Carolina picked up its first triumph in the No. 1 singles match. Yoanna Radulova fell to Mariya Dobreva 6-4, 6-2.
Liberty responded as transfer addition, Candy Wai, picked up her first Liberty spring triumph with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Mia Miranda on court four.
The final match featured Maria Turchetto who battled back from a 4-0 first-set deficit to take the first set 7-5. Taking on Jennelle Roberts, the two went back-and-forth in the second set.
Liberty 6, Western Carolina 1
Singles Competition
1. Mariya Dobreva (WCU) def. Yoanna Radulova (LIBERTYW) 6-4, 6-2
2. Maria Turchetto (LIBERTYW) def. Jenelle Roberts (WCU) 7-5, 6-4
3. Daniella O'Neill (LIBERTYW) def. Keira Stewart (WCU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Candy Wai (LIBERTYW) def. Mia Miranda (WCU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Milana Tsulygina (LIBERTYW) def. Axelle Van Beurden (WCU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Celina Joseph (LIBERTYW) def. Zoe Lui (WCU) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. Yoanna Radulova/Maria Turchetto (LIBERTYW) def. Mariya Dobreva/Mia Miranda (WCU) 7-6 (7-2)
2. Daniella O'Neill/Milana Tsulygina (LIBERTYW) def. Keira Stewart/Jenelle Roberts (WCU) 6-2
3. Celina Joseph/Candy Wai (LIBERTYW) def. Zoe Lui/Axelle Van Beurden (WCU) 6-1
Western Carolina 0-2
Liberty 1-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,5,6,1,4,2)
Lady Flames News & Notes
- Liberty picked up a doubles sweep in the first match of the 2026 spring season. The Lady Flames only had one doubles sweep across the 2025 spring season, in the second match of the year.
- Five Flames earned a 2-0 day with a singles and a doubles triumph.
- O'Neill kicked off the year in the No. 3 singles position, where she had a 5-0 record last year.
- Joseph improves her team-leading singles win total, improving to a 9-5 record this year.
- Wai improves to 7-2 across the 2025-26 year.
Up Next
Liberty takes on No. 4 Auburn (4-0) on Sunday at 11 AM ET/10 AM CT. The match from the Yarbrough Tennis Center in Auburn, Ala., will be streamed live via PlaySight.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2,1
#1 Singles Match
12
Mariya Dobreva / 0 [WCU]
66
42
#2 Singles Match
12
Jenelle Roberts / 0 [WCU]
54
76
#3 Singles Match
12
Keira Stewart / 0 [WCU]
00
66
#4 Singles Match
12
Mia Miranda / 0 [WCU]
23
66
#5 Singles Match
12
Axelle Van Beurden / 0 [WCU]
12
66
#6 Singles Match
12
Zoe Lui / 0 [WCU]
13
66
Order of Finish:
3,5,6,1,4,2
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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