DELAND, Fla. — Stetson came up just short in its home opener, falling 4-3 to Troy on Sunday at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center. The Hatters earned singles victories at the No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5 positions, but Troy secured the doubles point and edged three singles matches to claim the narrow win.

Troy opened the match by taking the doubles point with wins on courts two and three. At No. 3 doubles, Clelia Lombardi and Yuki Mizuguchi were topped 6-2 by Leena Metwally and Alexia Zarate. Hiba Heni and Emilia Namyslo followed with a 6-3 victory over Pilar Astigarraga Harper and Dana Baidaulet at No. 2 doubles. The No. 1 doubles match was left unfinished, with Troy's Valeriia Avdeeva and Maria Guirguis holding a slim 5-4 lead over Anastasija Adeikyte and Katsiaryna Tuliakova.

In singles play, Troy briefly extended its advantage as Metwally earned a 6-1, 6-3 win over Baidaulet at No. 3. Stetson quickly responded behind a strong showing from Mizuguchi, who posted a 6-3, 6-1 straight-sets victory over Heni at No. 5 to put the Hatters on the board.

The teams continued to trade points, with Guirguis claiming a 6-2, 7-5 decision over Tuliakova at No. 1 singles. Stetson answered once again as Harper delivered a 7-5, 6-2 win against Avdeeva at No. 2 singles. Adeikyte followed with a clutch three-set victory at No. 4, defeating Zarate 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to keep the Hatters in contention.

The match ultimately came down to the final court, where Troy's Sama Hindawy secured the deciding point with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over Lombardi at No. 6 singles.

Doubles
Anastasija Adeikyte/ Katsiaryna Tuliakova (STET) vs. Valeriia Avdeeva/Maria Guirguis (TROY) 4-5 (uf)
Hiba Heni/Emilia Namyslo (TROY) def. Pilar Astigarraga Harper/Dana Baidaulet (STET) 6-3
Leena Metwally/Alexia Zarate (TROY) def. Clelia Lombardi/Yuki Mizuguchi (STET) 6-2

Singles
Maria Guirguis (TROY) def. Katsiaryna Tuliakova (STET) 6-2, 7-5
Pilar Astigarraga Harper (STET) def. Valeriia Avdeeva (TROY) 7-5, 6-2
Leena Metwally (TROY) def. Dana Baidaulet (STET) 6-1, 6-3
Anastasija Adeikyte (STET) def. Alexia Zarate (TROY) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
Yuki Mizuguchi (STET) def. Hiba Heni (TROY) 6-3, 6-1
Sama Hindawy (TROY) def. Clelia Lombardi (STET) 4-6, 7-5, 6-2

Up Next
The Hatters will head on the road to Statesboro where they will face off with Georgia Southern on Friday, Jan. 30 at 1:00 p.m. followed by FAMU on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 10:00 a.m.

About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.