No. 27 Owls’ Comeback Falls Short in AAC Semifinal

Saturday, April 19

Memphis, Tenn.

3 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

Tulsa

4/19/2025 10:30:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

MEMPHIS, TENN. – The No. 27 Florida Atlantic women's tennis team played from behind all afternoon and narrowly missed pulling off a come-from-behind victory in the American Athletic Conference Championship semifinal round, falling to No. 52 Tulsa by a 4-3 score on Saturday evening.

The Owls, who entered the AAC tournament as the No. 1 seed and finished the tournament with a combined regular season and tournament record of 16-1, uncharacteristically dropped the doubles point. Tulsa, which entered as the No. 4 seed, advanced to Sunday's final with the win.

After dropping the doubles point, FAU then saw the Hurricane build a 3-0 lead before the Owls got on the scoreboard. Senior Lexi Silna, who is 13-0 in 2024-25, captured court five to begin the uphill comeback battle for the Owls. Playing with no margin for error, FAU sophomore Malwina Rowinska won court four to stave off a Tulsa victory. It was then freshman Lara Smejkal's turn to cash in with a 6-2, 6-7(7-3), 6-4 win to tie match at 3-3. The battle continued to wage on at court six which was pushed to three sets, including two set tiebreakers before Tulsa narrowly walked away with the match and the opportunity to play in Sunday's championship.

The Owls' historical season, one which saw FAU end the regular season as the only undefeated in the nation and as the only team in FAU history to conclude the regular season play undefeated, has not come to a close. The team will continue its preparation and await the opportunity for an at-large bid the 2025 NCAA Team Championship. Bids will be awarded on Monday, April 28.

RESULTS

#52 Tulsa (19-7) at #27 Florida Atlantic (16-1)
Date: 04/19/2025 Time: 3:15 PM Facility: Leftwich Tennis Center Site: Memphis, Tenn.

Doubles
#1 Ma Berlanga Bandera / Lily Hutchings (43/-) [TLS] def. Rowinska, Malwina / Smejkal, Lara [FAU] 7-5
#2 Ana Naranjo Martinez / M Manyoma Velasquez [TLS] vs. Gomez O'Hayon, Victoria / Matthews, Millie-Mae [FAU] 5-3 UF
#3 Isabella Basson / Tayla Wilmot [TLS] def. Bartha, Panna / Silna, Lexi [FAU] 603

Order of Finish: 3, 1

Singles
#1 Ma Berlanga Bandera (86/-) [TLS] def. Bartha, Panna [FAU] 6-2, 6-0
#2 M Manyoma Velasquez [TLS] def. Gomez O'Hayon, Victoria [FAU] 6-3, 6-1
#3 Smejkal, Lara [FAU] def. Lily Hutchings [TLS] 6-2, 6-7(7-3), 6-4
#4 Rowinska, Malwina [FAU] def. Tayla Wilmot [TLS] 7-5, 6-2
#5 Silna, Lexi [FAU] def. Ana Naranjo Martinez [TLS] 6-2, 6-2
#6 Erin McKenzie [TLS] def. Matthews, Millie-Mae [FAU] 5-7, 7-6(7-1), 7-6(7-5)

Order of Finish: 1, 2, 5, 4, 3, 6

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