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Wayne State University Athletics

Malak Arafat vs. PNW 2026
Romer Santacruz
Malak Arafat posted wins in doubles and singles to help the Warriors advance.
0
Michigan Tech MTUW (10-8, 3-4 GLIAC)
4
Winner Wayne State WSUW (8-8, 4-3 GLIAC)
Michigan Tech MTUW
(10-8, 3-4 GLIAC)
0
Final
4
Wayne State WSUW
(8-8, 4-3 GLIAC)
Winner

Match Recap: Women's Tennis | | Henry Coyle, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Women's Tennis Defeats Michigan Tech 4-0 to Advance to the GLIAC Tournament Semifinals

MIDLAND, Mich. -- The No. 4-seeded Wayne State University women's tennis team (8-8 overall) defeated the No. 5-seeded Michigan Tech University (10-8 overall) in the opening round of the GLIAC Tournament on Thursday, April 23, at the Greater Midland Tennis Center.

The Warriors move on to face top-seeded Grand Valley State University in the semifinals tomorrow, April 24.

HOW IT HAPPENED
DOUBLES
The Green and Gold struck first, claiming the doubles point after winning two-of-three matches.

At the No. 1 position, the First Team All-GLIAC duo of Martyna Szpakowska (Gdansk, Poland / Sopocka Akademia Tenisowa) and Justine Beaulieu (Montreal, Que. / Collège de Montréal High School) continued its doubles dominance, taking care of MTU's Bella Bigari and Emily Rose 6-2.  The pairing has now won 10-consecutive matches in doubles.

Malak Arafat (Alexandria, Egypt / Lycée Français d'Alexandrie) and Shantala Uzcategui (Hoyo de La Puerta, Venezuela / Unidad Educativa Colegio Madre Matilde [Walsh]) found success in the second doubles flight, posting a 6-1 triumph over Emily Cojocaru and Caoimhe McDonnell.

Freshmen pairing of Selin Kayakent (Bursa, Turkey / Bilfen Anatolian) and Rebecca Laynes (Saginaw, Mich. / Heritage) fell 6-1 to Alexandra Nikonenko and Katerina Khardina.

SINGLES
WSU was firing in singles action as well, collecting three wins to clinch the match.

First Team All-GLIAC honoree Arafat posted a 7-5, 6-4 win over Michigan Tech's Nikonenko in the top singles flight.

Rookie Kayakent, who garnered a Second Team All-GLIAC distinction, tallied a 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Bigari in her first appearance in the GLIAC Tournament at the No. 3 singles slot.

At the No. 5 singles flight, Uzcategui nabbed a win over Emily Rose, besting the MTU student-athlete 6-1, 7-5.

Szpakowska, and Laynes both had won a set prior to their matches going unfinished, while Beaulieu was tied after two sets.

UP NEXT
The No. 4-seeded Warriors will see action against top-seeded GVSU tomorrow, April 24, with the match slated to begin at 11:00 AM.


 
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