ROME, Ga. - Sixth-seeded Georgia Southern advanced to the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Women's Tennis Tournament quarterfinals with a 4-1 win over 11th-seeded Louisiana on Thursday afternoon at the Rome Tennis Center in Rome, Ga.

The Eagles improve to 18-5 on the year with the victory, while Louisiana sees its season come to a close with an 8-12 record. Georgia Southern advances to face third-seeded Troy on Friday at 2 p.m. in one of the late quarterfinal matchups.

Georgia Southern claimed the doubles point from the Ragin' Cajuns with a 6-1 win from Mackenzie Leopold and Sophie Wagemaker at No. 3 doubles over Cristine Tchanicheve and Karolina Skowronska, as well as a 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles from Silvia Martinez and Lindsay Tulenko over Angelique Berrat and Nina Krecklenberg.

The Eagles took four of six first sets in singles play, then were able to clinch the victory with three straight-set wins. Leopold collected a 6-4, 6-0 win over Jenaila Prulla at No. 4 singles, then first team All-Conference singles selection Ninon Martinache delivered a 6-4, 6-2 win over Carla Urchoeguia at No. 1 singles. Silvia Martinez secured the victory with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Tchanicheve at No. 2 singles.

"It's a good day, I think we started pretty well on all three doubles courts," Georgia Southern head women's tennis coach Sean McCaffrey said. "Absolutely golden tennis from Sophie and Mackenzie, and then Mackenzie going into singles, it was absolutely ridiculous how she controlled that match - she is not playing like a freshman right now. Really happy to see Silvia down a bit in the first set, show a little grit to come back to win it, then she commanded the second set. Same thing with Ninon, she's been playing really, really well. She's done a phenomenal job, not just showing herself as an extremely strong player but as a leader on this team. I'm pleased that we get a chance to play another day and I think, more importantly, it was one of the matches that we wanted back with Troy [in the regular season], and I'm excited about that."

RESULTS
Singles
1. Ninon Martinache (GS) def. Carla Urchoeguia (LA) 6-4, 6-2
2. Silvia Martinez (GS) def. Cristine Tchanicheve (LA) 6-3, 6-2
3. Angelique Berrat (LA) def. Lindsay Tulenko (GS) 6-2, 6-4
4. Mackenzie Leopold (GS) def. Jenaila Prulla (LA) 6-4, 6-0
5. Paula Hijos (GS) led Nina Krecklenberg (LA) 6-1, 6-6, unfinished
6. Karolina Skowronska (LA) led Nanaka Kijima (GS) 7-6 (5), 4-5, unfinished

Doubles
1. Ninon Martinache/Sonja Keranen (GS) led Carla urchoeguia/Jenaila Prulla (LA) 5-4, unfinished
2. Silvia Martinez/Lindsay Tulenko (GS) def. Angelique Berrat/Nina Krecklenberg (LA) 6-4
3. Mackenzie Leopold/Sophie Wagemaker (GS) def. Cristine Tchanicheve/Karolina Skowronska (LA) 6-1