COLUMBUS, Miss. – The W tennis program did its part to enhance the University's Homecoming 2026 celebration this weekend by sweeping Belhaven University in non-conference bouts on Friday at the Garrett Courts. The Owls men's team took a 5-2 win over the Blazers, while the MUW ladies scored a 6-1 victory over BU.
Both of MUW's teams swept their respective home-and-home season series' versus regional rival Belhaven in 2026.
The W men started its day by dominating all three doubles matches to earn the team point for pairs.
Jorge Ortiz Catala and
Sandro Giangregorio improved their record at No. 1 doubles to 6-4, by topping the Blazers duo, 6-4.
Juan Garcia and
Marcos Fernandez won at No. 2 doubles, 6-2, with the tandem of
Alvaro Bardales and
Josh Cooper coasting at No. 3 doubles, 6-1.
MUW would then win four of the six singles matches, all in straight sets. Ortiz Catala took down BU's Jesus Diaz at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-0. The Owls'
Josh Cooper lost a tough contest at No. 2 singles, splitting the first two sets 4-6, 6-4, before losing the deciding third set by an elongated 11-9 tally.
Giangregorio (6-3, 6-0), Garcia (6-1, 6-2), and Fernandez (6-1, 6-2) were victorious at the Nos. 3, 4, and 5 singles matches, respectively.
Tyler Bailey fell at No. 6 singles, 6-1, 6-1.
Fernandez improved his personal record to a team-leading 11-2 on the campaign, and has won five in a row.
On the women's side, MUW took advantage of a depleted Belhaven lineup. The Owls won four of the six contested matches and took three forfeits. In doubles, The W lost No. 1 pairs, but won at No. 2 doubles, 6-3, with
Austin Hays and
Emma Horton taking care of business. A Blazer forfeit at No. 3 doubles, gave MUW the team point.
At No. 1 singles, Hays won after BU's Millie Gallarno retired after the first set, and
Brooklyn Ward lost at No. 2, making the match score, 2-1, in the host's favor.
The W would win out the final four bouts, buoyed by a spirited three-set win by
Bailey Flynn at No. 3 singles. Flynn won set one, 6-3, but lost the second set, 6-1. In the third set, Flynn rushed BU's Evey Moore, 10-2.
At fourth singles, Horton won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0.
Alaina Mathis and
Harley Lowry took forfeits at the Nos. 5 and 6 slots.
Flynn and Mathis both registered their team-leading sixth win in singles play (both are 6-7, overall).
