RV Bethel Upsets No. 19 Marian to Secure First Crossroads League Regular Season Title

MISHAWAKA, Ind. — The (RV) Bethel Pilots Women's Tennis team achieved a historic milestone Thursday, upsetting the #19 Marian Knights 4-3 to secure the program's first Crossroads League Regular Season title at Ward Baker Park on Thursday.

The Pilots, end the conference tilt with a perfect record of 9-0 overall and 8-0 in league play, clinched the doubles point early in the match. Kaavya Palani and Szilvi Ferenczy set the tone with a 6-4 victory over Joell Leihbacher and Michelle Irigoyen in the first doubles match. Yasmin Imamniyazova and Ana Barbosa Fernandez followed suit, defeating Farida El Sayed and Ariadne Kokoula 6-1 in the second doubles. Sandy Sharaf and Kenzie Abdelaal rounded out the doubles sweep with a 6-2 win against Liliane Alinquant and Paloma Caceres Villalba in the third doubles.

In singles play, the competition intensified. Yasmin Imamniyazova triumphed over Ariadne Kokoula 6-2, 2-6, 10-4 in the first singles match. However, Michelle Irigoyen responded for Marian, defeating Kaavya Palani 6-3, 6-1 in the second. Kenzie Abdelaal continued the Pilots' momentum with a decisive 6-2, 6-0 victory against Ana Barbosa Fernandez in the third singles. Szilvi Ferenczy secured another point for Bethel, overpowering Liliane Alinquant 6-3, 6-0 in the fourth singles. Sandy Sharaf's 6-2, 6-4 win over Joelle Leihbacher further solidified the Pilots' lead, while Paloma Caceres Villalba edged Farida El Sayed 7-6, 7-6 in the sixth singles match.

With this victory, the Pilots are set to face the eighth seed in the Crossroads League Tournament, which begins Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Ward Baker Park. Check out bupilots.com or social media @BUPilots for updates on the tournament.