Phoenix Continue Play in National Tournament Against No. 2 Lindsey Wilson

LEBANON, Tenn. -- After earning its first NAIA National Tournament victory since 2008, the Cumberland women's tennis team now turns its attention to a familiar foe as the No. 18-seeded Phoenix take on No. 2-seeded Lindsey Wilson in the Second Round of the NAIA National Championship in Mobile, Alabama.

Cumberland advanced after battling past No. 15-seed Morningside 4-3 on Tuesday night, marking the program's first national tournament win in 18 years and securing a spot in the second round for the first time since the 2008 season.

Standing in Cumberland's path is one of the nation's top teams in Lindsey Wilson, who enters the tournament as the No. 2 overall seed after receiving a first-round bye. The Blue Raiders enter the national tournament following a dominant season. The Blue Raiders won both the Mid-South Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championship and enters today with a 16-1 record and winners of their last 13.

The two programs met earlier this season in Columbia, Kentucky, where Lindsey Wilson defended home court with a 6-1 victory over the Phoenix. Cumberland's lone point in the match came for Maria Arbelaez at No. 3 singles.

CU is led by senior standouts Elina Sungatullina and Arbelaez, who have anchored the lineup throughout the season and helped lead the Phoenix back to nationals. Sungatullina earned Mid-South Conference First Team honors, marking the third All-Conference selection of her career and her first appearance on the First Team.

Lindsey Wilson enters the second round with one of the deepest lineups in the NAIA, featuring five nationally-ranked singles players and three ranked doubles pairings. Leading the charge is Mayra Gisone, the No. 9-ranked singles player nationally, who carries a 16-3 overall record into nationals while earning First Team All-Mid-South Conference honors.

Freshman standout Javiera Verdugo, the Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year, has been dominant in her debut season, posting a 19-1 singles mark while climbing to No. 12 in the NAIA singles rankings. Verdugo also earned First Team All-MSC honors and has been a force in doubles play alongside Heyka Rodriguez, as the duo enters nationals with a 14-1 record and an undefeated conference mark.

The Blue Raiders also feature Hang Nguyen, ranked No. 27 nationally with an 11-2 singles record, while Mariaangeles Mateu and Martina Cortal enter postseason play ranked No. 42 and No. 51 respectively. Cortal garnered First Team All-MSC honors while Mateu and Blanca Trillo Pita da Veiga each earned Second Team recognition.

In doubles action, Lindsey Wilson has been equally dominant. Gisone and Cortal enter the tournament with a 20-1 record as one of the top-ranked tandems in the country, while Mateu and Trillo Pita da Veiga have compiled a 12-1 mark and national ranking.

Wednesday's winner will advance to the NAIA National Championship Quarterfinals to take on the winner of No. 7 LSU Alexandria and No. 10 Marian.

First serve is set for 1:00 PM in Mobile, Alabama.

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Players Mentioned

Maria Arbelaez: 5' 6"; Graduate Student

Elina Sungatullina: 5' 8"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Maria Arbelaez
: 5' 6"; Graduate Student

Elina Sungatullina
: 5' 8"; Senior