MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State University women's tennis opened play in the SWAC Pod II with wins over Bethune-Cookman and Mississippi Valley State on Thursday at the Olean Black Underwood Tennis Center.

The Lady Hornets took a 4-0 win over BC-U before winning 5-0 over MVSU in a match that was rained out and finished from the SWAC POD I. 

Alabama State won the doubles point when Cleanne Pickel and Ena Arnautovic won on court one coupled with a default at court three. 

Kesmat El Tawil beath Lesa Snipes-Williams on court five to wrap up the 4-0 win.

ASU's Diana Craciun and Melisa Mekic Carmelle Vial and El Tawil won their doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead into single against MVSU. 

Mekic, Vial, El Tawil  and Arnautovic captured singles wins on courts two, three, five and six to close out the win.

Alabama State continues play against Prairie View A&M on Friday at 2 p.m.

Alabama State 4, Bethune Cookman 0
3/27/2025 at Montgomery, Ala. | (Olean Black Underood Tennis Center)
Singles 
1. Diana Craciun (ALSTW) vs. Jalayah Shaw (BCUW) 6-3, unfinished
2. Melisa Mekic (ALSTW) vs. Zahara El-Zein (BCUW) 6-1, 3-2, unfinished
3. Carmelle Vial (ALSTW) def. Allexii Bassette (BCUW) 6-2, retired
4. Cleanne Pickel (ALSTW) vs. Keona Burley (BCUW) 6-0, 5-2, unfinished
5. Kesmat El Tawil (ALSTW) def. Lesa Snipes-Williams (BCUW) 6-0, 6-0
6. Ena Arnautovic (ALSTW) def. No player (BCUW) 0-0, default
 Doubles 
1. Cleanne Pickel/Ena Arnautovic (ALSTW) def. Jalayah Shaw/Allexii Bassette (BCUW) 6-1
2. Diana Craciun/Melisa Mekic (ALSTW) vs. Zahara El-Zein/Keona Burley (BCUW) 4-1, unfinished
3. Carmelle Vial/Kesmat El Tawil (ALSTW) def. No player/No player (BCUW) 0-0, 99-0

Match Notes:
Bethune Cookman 1-11, 0-4 SWAC | Alabama State 7-7, 3-1 SWAC

Alabama State 5, Mississippi Valley State 0
3/22/2025 at Montgomery, Ala. | (Olean Black Underwood Tennis Center)
 Singles 
1. Diana Craciun (ALSTW) vs. Tanaka Garakai (MVSU) 6-1, 2-0, unfinished
2. Melisa Mekic (ALSTW) def. Nina Schiks (MVSU) 6-0, 6-0
3. Carmelle Vial (ALSTW) def. Brooke Edyvane (MVSU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Cleanne Pickel (ALSTW) vs. Valerie Greer (MVSU) 6-0, 3-0, unfinished
5. Kesmat El Tawil (ALSTW) def. Tori Carter (MVSU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Ena Arnautovic (ALSTW) def. Malefo Kgotlelelo (MVSU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles 
1. Cleanne Pickel/Ena Arnautovic (ALSTW) vs. Nina Schiks/Tanaka Garakai (MVSU) 5-1, unfinished
2. Diana Craciun/Melisa Mekic (ALSTW) def. Brooke Edyvane/Valerie Greer (MVSU) 6-0
3. Carmelle Vial/Kesmat El Tawil (ALSTW) def. Tori Carter/Malefo Kgotlelelo (MVSU) 6-0

Match Notes:
Alabama State 7-7, 3-1 SWAC