Spartanburg, S.C. - Western Carolina's Chanè Steyn finished first in the SoCon Flight to highlight the weekend of competition for the women's tennis team against a field of eight teams at the Wofford Invite, hosted by the Terriers at the Reeves Tennis Center. Mariya Dobreva also turned in a strong performance, advancing to the Gold Flight championship match.
Singles Action:
Dobreva led the way for WCU in singles competition, opening flight play with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over UNC Asheville's Srinidhi Madhu. She followed with a three-set win over Furman's Bianca Ceroni, 6-1, 6-7 (7), 10-6, to advance to the flight final. In the championship match, Dobreva narrowly fell to Liberty's Diana Illie, 5-7, 6-1, [9-11], finishing as the Gold Flight runner-up.
Thalia Smith earned a singles victory in the Black Flight, defeating Mercer's Kayleigh Didderiens in a three-set match, 7-6 (4), 3-6, [10-8].
Chanè Steyn captured the SoCon Flight singles title, finishing first in her pool after collecting two victories. She opened with a three-set win over Wofford's Marie Henrikson, 0-6, 7-6 (4), [10-8], before defeating Furman's Shreya Amirichetty, 6-4, 1-6, [7-10]. Steyn's performance secured the flight title for the Catamounts.
Freshman Laura Sparnina also competed in pool play in the Gray Flight, earning two victories. She opened with a three-set win over Mercer's Andjela Raznatovic before adding a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Presbyterian's Odyssee Bellet Meriaux. Sparnina closed the tournament with a three-set match against Presbyterian's Isabella Moss.
Doubles Action:
Dobreva and Mia Miranda opened with a 6-2 victory over Mercer's Kayleigh Didderiens and Manon Rosa-Dubreuil in Gold Flight doubles, before falling 2-6 to Liberty's Milana Tsulygina and Diana Illie.
Kelly Coetzee and Smith competed in pool play in the White Flight. The pairing opened with a 4-6 loss to Presbyterian's Paulina Villegas Robles and Roxana Valdez before dropping a 2-6 decision to Wofford's Erica Brennan and Ana Maria Rincon. The duo bounced back in its final match, earning a 6-4 victory over UNC Asheville's Lauren Chutka and Chloe Collins.
Sparnina teamed up with Mercer's Talaki in the Gray Flight, opening pool play with a 6-2 victory over UNC Asheville's Maria Sol Alvarez Brandon and Brooke Bibee. The pairing then fell 4-6 to Wofford's Marie Henrikson and Stout before closing the tournament with a 6-2 win over Presbyterian's Elle Sceney and Odyssee Bellet Meriaux.
Steyn and Nathalie Marinovitch also represented the Catamounts in the Black Flight, falling 1-6 to Furman's Sasha Dimitrov and Shreya Amirichetty in their opening match.
The Wofford Invite marks the end of the 2026 fall season for the Catamounts, who now turn their attention towards preparation for the 2027 spring team season.
