ST. LOUIS, M.O. – The Bryant women's tennis team won its second consecutive OVC championship, defeating the SIUE Cougars by a final score of 4-2 on Sunday afternoon.

This marks Bryant's ninth conference championship in program history and their fourth in the Division I era. They've won the OVC title in both seasons as an affiliate member of the conference. The Bulldogs clinched an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament with the victory, marking their ninth tournament appearance and fourth as a Division I program under the direction of head coach Barbara Cilli. 

The Bulldogs started the match by clinching the doubles point to go up 1-0. Despite Lisa Dugec and Lucia Pino suffering the loss at No. 2 (6-3), Natalia Vela and Maria Jose Hernandez continued their dominance at No. 1 by securing the win (6-3). The point came down to Yahli Noy and Laura Stypula at No. 3 doubles. The duo won a back-and-forth affair in a tiebreaker (7-6) [7-5] to solidify the doubles point and set Bryant up nicely for singles play.

The Cougars battled back to gain ground in singles play, earning victories at No. 5 and 6 to pull ahead 2-1. Natalia Vela leveled the match at 2-2 by picking up the win at No. 2 singles (6-3, 6-3). Maria Jose Hernandez took care of business at No. 4 singles (6-4, 6-4) to put Bryant on the verge of victory up 3-2. Then, the OVC Freshman of the Year Laura Stypula sealed the deal at No. 3 singles (7-5, 6-4) to clinch the conference championship for the Bulldogs.

Match Information
Final: Bryant 4, SIUE 2
Records: Bryant (17-7) | SIUE (15-3)
Location: Dwight Davis Tennis Center, St. Louis, MO
Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026

Doubles (BRY wins 1-0)
Vela/Hernandez (BRY) def. Britt/Anikini (SIUE) 6-3
Palioura/Rogers (SIUE) def. Dugec/Pino (BRY) 6-3
Noy/Stypula (BRY) def. Li/Bowe (SIUE) 7-6 (7-5)

Singles (BRY wins 3-2)
Yahli Noy (BRY) vs. Margaux Guibal Britt (SIUE) 7-5, 3-6, 3-1, unfinished.
Natalia Vela (BRY) def. Elena Palioura (SIUE) 6-3, 6-3
Laura Stypula (BRY) def. Stefaniya Anikini (SIUE) 7-5, 6-4
Maria Jose Hernandez (BRY) def. Jessica Li (SIUE) 6-4, 6-4
Paloma Hennicaux (SIUE) def. Mila Martinez (BRY) 6-3, 6-2
Cydney Rogers (SIUE) def. Lisa Dugec (BRY) 6-2, 6-2

Up Next
The Bulldogs await the NCAA tournament selection show which is TBA. 

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