Thursday, April 16
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
1:00 PM ET/Noon CT
Liberty University
4
vs
1
No. 3 seed Kennesaw State
No. 6 Liberty Rides Comeback Doubles to Advance 4-1 Past No. 3 Kennesaw State
4/16/2026 7:17:00 PM | Women's Tennis
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – No. 6 seed Liberty (14-9) secured an upset 4-1 triumph over No. 3 seed Kennesaw State (11-7) on Thursday to advance to the semifinal round of the 2026 Conference USA Women's Tennis Championship. Liberty clinched the doubles point with wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. In singles play, Liberty captured victories on courts 3, 4, and 5 to seal the match. Kennesaw State earned its lone point with a win at No. 1 singles.
The Lady Flames advance to take on No. 2 seed FIU in the semifinal round on Friday at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT. The match will be played from the MTSU Outdoor Tennis Facility in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Liberty secured the doubles point with victories on courts No. 2 and No. 1. Daniella O'Neill and Milanan Tsulygina clinched a 6-3 win over Maria Ivankovic and Irene Serrano at No. 2 doubles. Kennesaw State claimed the No. 3 doubles match, where Rianna Coreisa and Laura Nadaska defeated Anika Lemus and Candy Wai, 6-4.
Yoanna Radulova and Maria Turchetto showcased the match of the day in Murfreesboro. The duo battled back from down 5-2 to force a tiebreaker for the set. The Owls' Ema Baraniakova and Sofia Madrid fought off multiple match points in the tiebreak after facing a 6-4 deficit. The Lady Flames' top pair held to secure a crucial match point with a thrilling 7-6 (6) victory on court one.
In singles, Kennesaw State's Ema Baraniakova quickly evened the dual score with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Daniella O'Neill at No. 1 singles. Liberty reclaimed the lead on court four, as Milana Tsulygina secured a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Laura Nadaska. Radulova fought back after surrendering a 4-0 second-set lead, extending Liberty's advantage with a three-set win on court three, defeating Maria Ivankovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
Joseph clinched the match for Liberty at No. 5 singles, overcoming Irene Serrano 7-5, 5-7, 6-3. In a closely contested match. Two matches went unfinished as the Owls were threatening to come out on top. Turchetto was neck-and-neck on court one with a 6-4, 1-6, 4-4 score against Sofia Madrid. Lemus was trailing 6-4, 2-6, 5-4 to Terezia Baraniakova in the No. 6 singles match.
Liberty ousts Kennesaw State for the second straight championship run, improving to 5-0 all-time against the Owls.
Liberty 4, Kennesaw State 1
Singles Competition
1. Ema Baraniakova (KSU) def. Daniella O'Neill (LIBERTYW) 6-3, 6-2
2. Sofia Madrid (KSU) vs. Maria Turchetto (LIBERTYW) 4-6, 6-1, 4-4, unfinished
3. Yoanna Radulova (LIBERTYW) def. Maria Ivankovic (KSU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
4. Milana Tsulygina (LIBERTYW) def. Laura Nadaska (KSU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Celina Joseph (LIBERTYW) def. Irene Serrano (KSU) 7-5, 5-7, 6-3
6. Terezia Baraniakova (KSU) vs. Anika Lemus (LIBERTYW) 6-4, 2-6, 5-4, unfinished
Doubles Competition
1. Yoanna Radulova/Maria Turchetto (LIBERTYW) def. Ema Baraniakova/Sofia Madrid (KSU) 7-6 (8-6)
2. Daniella O'Neill/Milana Tsulygina (LIBERTYW) def. Maria Ivankovic/Irene Serrano (KSU) 6-3
3. Rianna Coreisa/Laura Nadaska (KSU) def. Candy Wai/Anika Lemus (LIBERTYW) 6-4
Liberty 14-9
Kennesaw State 11-7
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,4,3,5)
Lady Flames News & Notes
Up Next
No. 6 seed Liberty (14-9) will take on No. 2 seed FIU (10-10) in the semifinal round on Friday at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ from the MTSU Outdoor Tennis Facility in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
The Lady Flames advance to take on No. 2 seed FIU in the semifinal round on Friday at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT. The match will be played from the MTSU Outdoor Tennis Facility in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Liberty secured the doubles point with victories on courts No. 2 and No. 1. Daniella O'Neill and Milanan Tsulygina clinched a 6-3 win over Maria Ivankovic and Irene Serrano at No. 2 doubles. Kennesaw State claimed the No. 3 doubles match, where Rianna Coreisa and Laura Nadaska defeated Anika Lemus and Candy Wai, 6-4.
Yoanna Radulova and Maria Turchetto showcased the match of the day in Murfreesboro. The duo battled back from down 5-2 to force a tiebreaker for the set. The Owls' Ema Baraniakova and Sofia Madrid fought off multiple match points in the tiebreak after facing a 6-4 deficit. The Lady Flames' top pair held to secure a crucial match point with a thrilling 7-6 (6) victory on court one.
In singles, Kennesaw State's Ema Baraniakova quickly evened the dual score with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Daniella O'Neill at No. 1 singles. Liberty reclaimed the lead on court four, as Milana Tsulygina secured a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Laura Nadaska. Radulova fought back after surrendering a 4-0 second-set lead, extending Liberty's advantage with a three-set win on court three, defeating Maria Ivankovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
Joseph clinched the match for Liberty at No. 5 singles, overcoming Irene Serrano 7-5, 5-7, 6-3. In a closely contested match. Two matches went unfinished as the Owls were threatening to come out on top. Turchetto was neck-and-neck on court one with a 6-4, 1-6, 4-4 score against Sofia Madrid. Lemus was trailing 6-4, 2-6, 5-4 to Terezia Baraniakova in the No. 6 singles match.
Liberty ousts Kennesaw State for the second straight championship run, improving to 5-0 all-time against the Owls.
Liberty 4, Kennesaw State 1
Singles Competition
1. Ema Baraniakova (KSU) def. Daniella O'Neill (LIBERTYW) 6-3, 6-2
2. Sofia Madrid (KSU) vs. Maria Turchetto (LIBERTYW) 4-6, 6-1, 4-4, unfinished
3. Yoanna Radulova (LIBERTYW) def. Maria Ivankovic (KSU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
4. Milana Tsulygina (LIBERTYW) def. Laura Nadaska (KSU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Celina Joseph (LIBERTYW) def. Irene Serrano (KSU) 7-5, 5-7, 6-3
6. Terezia Baraniakova (KSU) vs. Anika Lemus (LIBERTYW) 6-4, 2-6, 5-4, unfinished
Doubles Competition
1. Yoanna Radulova/Maria Turchetto (LIBERTYW) def. Ema Baraniakova/Sofia Madrid (KSU) 7-6 (8-6)
2. Daniella O'Neill/Milana Tsulygina (LIBERTYW) def. Maria Ivankovic/Irene Serrano (KSU) 6-3
3. Rianna Coreisa/Laura Nadaska (KSU) def. Candy Wai/Anika Lemus (LIBERTYW) 6-4
Liberty 14-9
Kennesaw State 11-7
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,4,3,5)
Lady Flames News & Notes
- Liberty is now 76-43 (.639) collectively in singles and 36-23 (.610) overall.
- Radulova (7-11) improves to 4-0 (2-0 singles, 2-0 doubles) at the CUSA Championship at No. 1 doubles and No. 3 singles. Tsulygina boasts a 3-0 mark (1-0 singles, 2-0 doubles).
- Tsulygina (16-4) and Joseph (15-5) each pick up their first singles win of the tournament.
- Radulova and Turchetto now boast a 10-8 mark in doubles, all in the No. 1 position. O'Neill and Tsulygina (13-7) improve to 12-7 on court two.
- Liberty reaches the CUSA Championship semifinal for the third consecutive season after joining the league in 2023
- Liberty will take on FIU in the CUSA Championship for the third straight postseason. FIU is 2-0 in said matches, including a triumph in the 2024 final, a match that current Lady Flames Daniella O'Neill and Maria Turchetto participated in.
Up Next
No. 6 seed Liberty (14-9) will take on No. 2 seed FIU (10-10) in the semifinal round on Friday at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ from the MTSU Outdoor Tennis Facility in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3,1
#1 Singles Match
12
32
Ema Baraniakova / 0 [KSU]
66
#2 Singles Match
1234
614UF
Sofia Madrid / 0 [KSU]
464UF
#3 Singles Match
123
656
Maria Ivankovic / 0 [KSU]
472
#4 Singles Match
12
66
Laura Nadaska / 0 [KSU]
23
#5 Singles Match
123
756
Irene Serrano / 0 [KSU]
573
#6 Singles Match
1234
464UF
Terezia Baraniakova / 0 [KSU]
625UF
Order of Finish:
1,4,3,5
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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