WOMEN’S TENNIS

The HU women’s tennis team wrapped up its fall schedule this weekend at the Cardinal Invitational, hosted by Saginaw Valley State University. The Foresters earned a 6-0 victory over Ashland University on Friday before falling 7-0 to the host Cardinals on Saturday.

Huntington opened the invitational with a strong performance against Ashland. The Foresters secured the doubles point with victories from the No. 1 team of Ashley Bucur and Yariange Bello and the No. 2 pairing of Addison Mast and Tiziana Rizzato, while also receiving a forfeit at the third position.

The momentum carried into singles play where Huntington claimed four completed matches. Bucur cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles, while Bello rebounded from a first-set setback to defeat Luciana Ottoni 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3 singles. Mast earned a first-set victory before Anna Schmidt was forced to retire from the match, and Carolina Rogel Castro added a convincing 6-1, 6-1 win at the fifth flight. Abigail Beck rounded out the scoring with a forfeit victory at No. 6 singles as Huntington completed the sweep.

Saturday’s finale featured a much stiffer test as the Foresters squared off with host Saginaw Valley State. The Cardinals gained the early advantage by sweeping all three doubles matches, winning 6-2 at No. 1 doubles, 6-4 at No. 2 doubles, and 6-3 at No. 3 doubles.

Saginaw Valley maintained its momentum in singles play, claiming all six courts to secure the team victory. Huntington’s most competitive match came at No. 3 singles where Bello battled Isabella Varela to a second-set tiebreak before ultimately falling 6-0, 7-6(6). Bucur also turned in a solid effort at the top flight before dropping a 6-3, 6-3 decision to Nicoletta Diamantopoulos.

The weekend brought the curtain down on a productive fall season for the Foresters. Huntington opened the year with wins over Cedarville and Indiana East, challenged NCAA Division I Valparaiso in a narrow 4-3 decision, and enjoyed a standout showing at the 2026 ITA NAIA Men’s and Women’s Midwest Regional Championship. At the regional event, Bucur advanced to the singles semifinals while Bucur and Bello teamed up for a runner-up finish in doubles, highlighting a promising fall for the Foresters heading into the spring season.

Friday vs. Ashland 

Huntington 6, Ashland 0

Singles

• Ashley Bucur def. Lara Dier, 6-2, 6-2

• Addison Mast def. Anna Schmidt, 6-4, ret.

• Yariange Bello def. Luciana Ottoni, 1-6, 6-1, 6-3

• Tiziana Rizzato vs. Maria Jemio, DNF

• Carolina Rogel Castro def. Brittany Witsken, 6-1, 6-1

• Abigail Beck won by forfeit

Doubles

• Bucur/Bello def. Dier/Schmidt, 6-2

• Mast/Rizzato def. Jemio/Ottoni, 6-3

• Sander/Rogel Castro won by forfeit

Saturday vs. Saginaw Valley State 

Saginaw Valley State 7, Huntington 0

Singles

• Nicoletta Diamantopoulos def. Ashley Bucur, 6-3, 6-3

• Mar Miramontes def. Addison Mast, 6-4, 6-1

• Isabella Varela def. Yariange Bello, 6-0, 7-6(6)

• Fatimah Butt def. Tiziana Rizzato, 6-4, 6-2

• Anastasia Diamantopoulos def. Carolina Rogel Castro, 6-3, 6-2

• Claudia Caldererio def. Coby Sander, 6-1, 6-1

Doubles

• Diamantopoulos/Varela def. Bucur/Bello, 6-2

• A. Diamantopoulos/Butt def. Mast/Rizzato, 6-4

• Miramontes/Caldererio def. Rogel Castro/Beck, 6-3

Up Next 

The Foresters will now turn their attention to the spring portion of the 2026-27 schedule.