UNI tennis drops Valley opener to Belmont

Saturday, March 28

Nashville, Tenn.

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

Belmont

Photo by: Belmont Athletics

UNI tennis drops Valley opener to Belmont

3/28/2026 7:13:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The UNI women's tennis team opened Missouri Valley Conference play on the road Friday, falling to Belmont, 6-1.

The Panthers move to a 2-10 overall record and 0-1 in MVC action, while the Bruins improve to a 2-12 overall record and 1-0 in conference play.

Belmont claimed the early advantage by sweeping all three doubles matches. At No. 1, Jessica Popiol and Savannah Webster defeated Lucia Schuknecht and Yangjiaxin Li, 6-2. The Bruins followed with identical 6-2 wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to secure the doubles point.

In singles play, Belmont carried its momentum with straight-set victories at No. 1, No. 3, and No. 6 to build a commanding lead. Savannah Webster earned a 6-0, 6-1 win over Lucia Schuknecht at the top spot, while Emma Grant added a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 6.

UNI's lone point came from Abbie Peterson at No. 5 singles. Peterson battled through a three-set match, defeating Libbie Hamilton, 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 (10-4), in a match tiebreak to secure the Panthers' only win of the day.

Belmont also picked up a three-set win at No. 2 singles, where Cielo Tapia-Cruz edged Andrea Noa Galin, 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4), and a tight straight-set victory at No. 4, with Ketevan Jeladze defeating Kayla Santosa in a second-set tiebreak, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

RESULTS

DOUBLES

#1 –Jessica Popiol/Savannah Webster (BELW) def. Li, Yangjiaxin/Schuknecht, Lucia (UNI) 6-2
#2 – Emma Grant/Cielo Tapia-Cruz (BELW) def. Peterson, Abbie/Santosa, Kayla (UNI) 6-2
#3 – Ketevan Jeladze/Hana Sokolovic (BELW) def. Begic, Sedina/Noa Galin, Andrea (UNI) 6-2

SINGLES

#1 – Savannah Webster (BELW) def. Schuknecht, Lucia (UNI) 6-0, 6-1
#2 – Cielo Tapia-Cruz (BELW) def. Noa Galin, Andrea (UNI) 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4)
#3 – Jessica Popiol (BELW) def. Li, Yangjiaxin (UNI) 6-3, 6-3
#4 – Ketevan Jeladze (BELW) def. Santosa, Kayla (UNI) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
#5 – Peterson, Abbie (UNI) def. Libbie Hamilton (BELW) 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 (10-4)
#6 – Emma Grant (BELW) def. Begic, Sedina (UNI) 6-1, 6-0

UNI tennis action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Tennis), X (@UNITennis) and on Instagram (@uniwtennis). The 2025-26 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.