By Olivia Miller
Eight talented Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldog student athletes – four girls and four boys – set off to represent their school at the prestigious ITA Cup in Georgia, competing in both singles and doubles. The three-day knockout tournament, running from Thursday to Saturday, brought together some of the top collegiate tennis players.
On the men’s side, Lucas Grana and Lucas Perez will join Mario and David from Spain forming a strong international lineup. The women’s team featuring Ivet, who will be competing in both singles and doubles, alongside Honoka, Laia and Olivia.
Below are the results.
Women’s Singles
Ivet Prat from Spain delivered a strong showing. In the first round, she battled through a tough three-set match to defeat Javiera Verdugo (Lindsey Wilson College) 4-6, 7-6, 6-4. In the quarterfinals, Prat faced top-seeded Violet Apish (Keiser University) and, despite a determined effort, fell 6-1, 6-0.
Women’s Doubles
The women’s doubles teams had a busy run in the main and back draws. Olivia Alcala and Laia Berne faced a strong Keiser University duo, Violet Apisah and Patricia Apisah, in their opening match, falling 6-0, 6-1. Honoka Tsuji and Ivet Prat opened their campaign with a solid 6-2, 7-6 victory over Keyla Rodríguez and Maria Ortega Mateu (Lindsey Wilson College). The pair later exited in the quarterfinals after a hard-fought 7-5, 6-0 loss to Alexandra Melnikova and Cato Tangka (Keiser University).
In the back draw, Alcala and Berne showcased impressive teamwork and determination. They defeated Szilvia Ferenczy and Paola Lameda (Bethel University) 6-4, 6-3, then followed up with another victory in the semifinals against Nora Louko and Alessia Piccioliori (SCAD Savannah), 6-4, 7-6, securing a strong finish to their tournament run.
PICTURED Ivet Prat and Tsuji Hononka
Men’s Doubles
On the men’s side, two teams represented TWU with grit and perseverance. Lucas Grana and Lucas Perez dropped their first match against Nereo Suarez and Ivan Vazques (Xavier University) 2-6, 6-2, 10-8. David Leon and Mario Monclus also faced a tough opening draw, falling 6-3, 6-2 to Mateo Larrea and Lev Sholosh (Lindsey Wilson College).
In the back draw, Grana and Perez bounced back strongly, defeating Jose Perez and Nelson Ramos (Oakland City University) 6-4, 5-7, 10-4. They advanced to the semifinals, where they battled Francisco Perez and Kanan Gasimov (Georgia Gwinnett College) but came up short 6-2, 2-6, 10-3.
Back Draw and National Rankings
This tournament featured a back draw format, allowing players who lost in the first round to continue competing for final placement. These results contributed to the players’ national ranking points, offering valuable experience and recognition at the national level.
The team displayed remarkable effort throughout the tournament, with several matches decided by narrow margins and tiebreaks. A special mention to Ivet who is the first woman in the program history to qualify for the ITA Cup in singles and advance to the quarterfinals. A huge achievement. Overall, their strong performances, especially in the back draw rounds, reflect the continued growth and competitive spirit of TWU tennis.
Photos by Lucas Grana
Edited by Jakov Kusanovic
Editorial Assistance by Kamaurian Frierson
The Bulldog Beat 