Georgia Southern University
Alcorn State
Eagles Split Pair Of Matches At Mississippi State Friday
2/6/2026 7:50:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Georgia Southern knocks off Alcorn State, battles host Bulldogs tough in Starkville
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Georgia Southern women's tennis split a pair of matches on Friday, played at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre on the campus of Mississippi State University in Starkville. The Eagles defeated Alcorn State, 4-0, but fell to host Mississippi State, 5-2.
With the split, Georgia Southern moves to 2-4 on the season. The Eagles will be next in action on Sunday, taking on Georgia State at 10 a.m. in Atlanta.
The Eagles began the day by blanking Alcorn State in the first meeting between the two teams in school history. Georgia Southern swept all three doubles points, then got straight-set singles wins from Evelyn Warkentin at No. 1 singles, Franzi Heinemann at No. 2 singles and Nanaka Kijima at No. 6 singles to clinch the victory.
The matchup with Mississippi State followed, and the Bulldogs claimed the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles.
Evelyn Warkentin got the Eagles back even with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Gianna Oboniye at No. 1 singles, but the Bulldogs clinched the win with straight-set singles wins at No. 5, No. 2 and No. 3 singles. Mackenzie Leopold would take a three-set win in a 10-point tiebreak, downing Noemie Oliveras 7-6 (4), 3-6, (10-5) at No. 4 singles for the Eagles' other singles point.
"I feel like we played really well in the first match against Alcorn," Georgia Southern head women's tennis coach Sean McCaffrey said. "All three doubles teams were playing at a high level. I tasked the squad to try to play as as clean and as crisp as they possibly could, and I believe that they did a really really good job of making sure that that happened. Getting that doubles points definitely gave us some good momentum going into singles. We e saw some some good matches by everybody, but Evie in particular is playing at a high-level. Franzi was doing a really good job of making her opponent feel uncomfortable and Nanaka being able to finish out her match at six was also nice."
"In the second match with Mississippi State, I felt like in doubles we were in it. They were quite strong at number one, so obviously our focus turned to number two and three doubles. I feel that that Nana and Franzi were on their way to taking their match and Angelina and Lisen did a really good job of being down a break and then getting back in it, making it competitive in order to have Mississippi State sweat a little bit. Unfortunately the doubles point went their way. In singles, the match was really tight. I feel like just again right now Evie is playing at such a high level that there's very little that she's not doing right. Nana played a great match, forcing a third set that was really good. Franzi had a pretty tough first set, but then came back and made a good match, and then McKenzie just played all the way through a really strong match. I think a match like today just shows the team that - when we're that close to an SEC team - the sky can be the limit. It's just about believing in themselves and being able to be willing to clean up some things, and to be strong and brave. Now we're excited about getting a little practice in tomorrow in Atlanta and then taking on Georgia State on Sunday."
Results
Georgia Southern 4, Alcorn State 0
Singles
1. Evelyn Warkentin (GS) def. Amelia Tatafu (ALC) 6-1, 6-0
2. Franzi Heinemann (GS) def. Zoe Crimmel (ALC) 6-0, 6-2
3. Angelina Mihajlovic (GS) led Hana Bajramovic (ALC) 6-2, 1-2, unfinished
4. Mackenzie Leopold (GS) led Oi Villanueva Lopez (ALC) 6-0, 4-2, unfinished
5. Amelie Rosadoro (GS) led Taylor Briffa (ALC) 6-1, 4-1, unfinished
6. Nanaka Kijima (GS) def. Katherine Grados (ALC) 6-0, 6-1
Doubles
1. Mackenzie Leopold/Evelyn Warkentin (GS) def. Hana Bajramovic/Amelia Tatafu (ALC) 6-2
2. Angelina Mihajlovic/Lisen Rinman (GS) def. Zoe Crimmel/Oi Villanueva Lopez (ALC) 6-1
3. Franzi Heinemann/Nanaka Kijima (GS) def. Taylor Briffa/Katherine Grados (ALC) 6-1
Order of Finish
Singles: 1, 2, 6
Doubles: 2, 3, 1
Mississippi State 5, Georgia Southern 2
Singles
1. Evelyn Warkentin (GS) def. Gianna Oboniye (MSU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Cha Kempenaers-Pocz (MSU) def. Franzi Heinemann (GS) 6-0, 7-5
3. Thes Ntondele Zinga (MSU) def. Angelina Mihajlovic (GS) 6-2, 6-4
4. Mackenzie Leopold (GS) def. Carolina Troiano (MSU) 7-6 (4), 3-6, (10-5)
5. Chiara Di Genova (MSU) def. Lisen Rinman (GS) 6-3, 6-2
6. Noemie Oliveras (MSU) def. Nanaka Kijima (GS) 6-3, 4-6, (10-8)
Doubles
1. #9 Cha Kempenaers-Pocz/Gianna Oboniye (MSU) def. Mackenzie Leopold/Evelyn Warkentin (GS) 6-0
2. Chiara Di Genova/Noemie Oliveras (MSU) def. Angelina Mihajlovic/Lisen Rinman (GS) 6-4
3. Franzi Heinemann/Nanaka Kijima (GS) and Athina Pitta/Mia Robinson (MSU) 5-5, unfinished
Order of Finish
Singles: 1, 5, 2, 3, 4, 6
Doubles: 1, 2
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3,1
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2,6
Players Mentioned
