University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Thursday, April 23
Rome, Ga.
1:30 p.m. (CDT)
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
0
vs
4
Marshall
Cajuns’ Season Ends Against Marshall in SBC Second Round
4/23/2026 6:30:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Louisiana returns to postseason, finishes with 13 wins and strong spring momentum
ROME, Ga. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Tennis team saw its return to postseason play come to an end on Thursday, April 23, falling to Marshall, 4-0, in the second round of the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Championship tournament at the Rome Tennis Center in Rome, Georgia.
Making their first SBC Championship appearance since 2024, the No. 7-seeded Ragin' Cajuns (13-6) battled early but couldn't overcome a strong start by the No. 10-seeded Thundering Herd (13-10), who secured the doubles point and carried that momentum into singles play.
Marshall claimed victories on Courts 1 and 3 in doubles to take a 1-0 match lead. The Ragin' Cajuns showed resistance on Court 2, where Safia Zenbi and Ana Martinez Vaquero held a 5-4 edge before the match went unfinished.
In singles, Louisiana pushed on multiple courts but was unable to convert into points as Marshall clinched the match with wins on Courts 5, 6 and 2.
Senior Angelique Berrat was locked in a tight battle at No. 1 singles, forcing the opening set with Marshall's Johanna Strom to an extended seventh point before trailing 4-2 in the second when play was halted. Berrat's battle brought her season-ending unbeaten streak to 14 matches (11 wins, three unfinished), closing her final collegiate season with a 13-1 record – all on Court 1.
Martinez Vaquero, who claimed victory in her opening set over Sarah Copley, and Marilou Bressan were also in competitive positions in their respective matches that went unfinished.
Despite the setback, the Cajuns' spring 2026 dual match season marked a step forward for the program, which will look to build on its success next season.
Louisiana concluded the 2026 season with its first double-digit win total since 2018. The 13-win campaign, second-highest tally with head coach Stephanie Vallejos, was highlighted by a nine-match win streak and the team's impressive 54-29 record in singles play.
MATCH RESULTS
FINAL: Marshall 4, Louisiana 0
Apr. 23, 2026 at Rome, Ga. (Rome Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Angelique Berrat (UL) vs. Johanna Strom (MU) 5-7, 2-4, unfinished
2. Polina Gumeniuk (MU) def. Safia Zenbi (UL) 6-4, 6-2
3. Marilou Bressan (UL) vs. Alina Mokrynska (MU) 4-6, 4-5, unfinished
4. Ana Martinez Vaquero (UL) vs. Sarah Copley (MU) 6-3, 5-5, unfinished
5. Nour El Ouazzani (MU) def. Martina Della Gora (UL) 6-0, 6-2
6. Thalia Smith (MU) def. Rocio Navarro (UL) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Alina Mokrynska/Johanna Strom (MU) def. Angelique Berrat/Nina Krecklenberg (UL) 6-2
2. Safia Zenbi/Ana Martinez Vaquero (UL) vs. Sarah Copley/Nour El Ouazzani (MU) 5-4, unfinished
3. Polina Gumeniuk/Thalia Smith (MU) def. Martina Della Gora/Rocio Navarro (UL) 6-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (5,6,2)
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsWT) and on Instagram (ragincajunswt) to stay up-to-date with Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Tennis.
Fans are also encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
Admission to all Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Tennis home matches is free of charge for all and open to the public. Fans can track the progress of the matches involving Louisiana through links accessible from the Women's Tennis schedule page on RaginCajuns.com.
Making their first SBC Championship appearance since 2024, the No. 7-seeded Ragin' Cajuns (13-6) battled early but couldn't overcome a strong start by the No. 10-seeded Thundering Herd (13-10), who secured the doubles point and carried that momentum into singles play.
Marshall claimed victories on Courts 1 and 3 in doubles to take a 1-0 match lead. The Ragin' Cajuns showed resistance on Court 2, where Safia Zenbi and Ana Martinez Vaquero held a 5-4 edge before the match went unfinished.
In singles, Louisiana pushed on multiple courts but was unable to convert into points as Marshall clinched the match with wins on Courts 5, 6 and 2.
Senior Angelique Berrat was locked in a tight battle at No. 1 singles, forcing the opening set with Marshall's Johanna Strom to an extended seventh point before trailing 4-2 in the second when play was halted. Berrat's battle brought her season-ending unbeaten streak to 14 matches (11 wins, three unfinished), closing her final collegiate season with a 13-1 record – all on Court 1.
Martinez Vaquero, who claimed victory in her opening set over Sarah Copley, and Marilou Bressan were also in competitive positions in their respective matches that went unfinished.
Despite the setback, the Cajuns' spring 2026 dual match season marked a step forward for the program, which will look to build on its success next season.
Louisiana concluded the 2026 season with its first double-digit win total since 2018. The 13-win campaign, second-highest tally with head coach Stephanie Vallejos, was highlighted by a nine-match win streak and the team's impressive 54-29 record in singles play.
MATCH RESULTS
FINAL: Marshall 4, Louisiana 0
Apr. 23, 2026 at Rome, Ga. (Rome Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Angelique Berrat (UL) vs. Johanna Strom (MU) 5-7, 2-4, unfinished
2. Polina Gumeniuk (MU) def. Safia Zenbi (UL) 6-4, 6-2
3. Marilou Bressan (UL) vs. Alina Mokrynska (MU) 4-6, 4-5, unfinished
4. Ana Martinez Vaquero (UL) vs. Sarah Copley (MU) 6-3, 5-5, unfinished
5. Nour El Ouazzani (MU) def. Martina Della Gora (UL) 6-0, 6-2
6. Thalia Smith (MU) def. Rocio Navarro (UL) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Alina Mokrynska/Johanna Strom (MU) def. Angelique Berrat/Nina Krecklenberg (UL) 6-2
2. Safia Zenbi/Ana Martinez Vaquero (UL) vs. Sarah Copley/Nour El Ouazzani (MU) 5-4, unfinished
3. Polina Gumeniuk/Thalia Smith (MU) def. Martina Della Gora/Rocio Navarro (UL) 6-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (5,6,2)
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsWT) and on Instagram (ragincajunswt) to stay up-to-date with Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Tennis.
Fans are also encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
Admission to all Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Tennis home matches is free of charge for all and open to the public. Fans can track the progress of the matches involving Louisiana through links accessible from the Women's Tennis schedule page on RaginCajuns.com.
- www.RaginCajuns.com -
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
#1 Singles Match
123
Johanna Strom / 0 [MU]
74UF
52UF
#2 Singles Match
12
Polina Gumeniuk / 0 [MU]
66
42
#3 Singles Match
123
Alina Mokrynska / 0 [MU]
65UF
44UF
#4 Singles Match
123
Sarah Copley / 0 [MU]
35UF
65UF
#5 Singles Match
12
Nour El Ouazzani / 0 [MU]
66
02
#6 Singles Match
12
Thalia Smith / 0 [MU]
66
12
Order of Finish:
5,6,2
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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