GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The semifinal round of the GSAC Women's Tennis Championship unfolded in two very different ways Thursday in Glendale—one match defined by efficiency and control, the other by swings of momentum and a final, pressure-filled decider.

Arizona Christian 4, Northern New Mexico 0
No. 3 seed Arizona Christian Firestorm wasted little time asserting control against No. 6 Northern New Mexico Eagles, advancing with a clean sweep in a match that never fully developed due to lineup limitations.

Doubles play set the tone early. Arizona Christian secured the point quickly, highlighted by a 6-0 win from the tandem of Gracie Madeya and Savannah Salvin at the No. 2 position. The Firestorm also picked up a walkover at No. 3 doubles, effectively putting the doubles point out of reach before the top flight could finish. With the point clinched, the No. 1 doubles match featuring Eloise Diligent and Ana Alvarez was halted unfinished.

That early advantage only accelerated in singles. Arizona Christian benefited from two additional walkovers at the No. 5 and No. 6 spots, quickly stretching the lead to 3-0 and putting the match firmly on the brink. From there, it became a matter of closing out one more court.

Madeya provided that final point in dominant fashion at No. 3 singles, delivering a 6-0, 6-0 result that underscored the overall gap on the day. Even on courts that did not factor into the final score, Arizona Christian maintained control. Diligent added a convincing 6-0, 6-1 win at the top position, while the remaining matches were halted once the team result was secured.

While the match lacked extended drama, Arizona Christian executed exactly as required—efficient in doubles, composed in singles, and quick to capitalize on every available point. The Firestorm now move forward into a more competitive semifinal test against No. 2 seed Stanton.

OUAZ 4, College of Idaho 3
The second semifinal told the opposite story. No. 5 OUAZ Spirit and No. 4 College of Idaho Yotes battled through a back-and-forth match that ultimately came down to the final singles court, with OUAZ emerging 4-3 after nearly every position contributed to the outcome.

College of Idaho struck first by claiming the doubles point. After a dominant 6-0 win at No. 3 doubles from Berkley Klarich and Alden Long, OUAZ responded emphatically at the top spot with Martina Antich and Michelle Pugh earning a matching 6-0 victory. The deciding doubles match at No. 2 went the Yotes’ way, 6-2, giving them the early 1-0 edge and initial momentum heading into singles.

OUAZ quickly erased that advantage once singles began. Antich leveled the match at 1-1 with a commanding 6-0, 6-0 performance at No. 1, setting a tone at the top of the lineup. Shortly after, Antonia Kostoff delivered another straight-set win at No. 3 to push OUAZ ahead 2-1.

But the Yotes continued to respond. Nicole Tran secured a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 6 to tie the match at 2-2, keeping the outcome fully in the balance. OUAZ regained the lead at No. 4 singles, where Sienna Johnson controlled both sets in a 6-3, 6-3 win to make it 3-2.

With the match tightening, all eyes shifted to the final two courts. College of Idaho found its answer at No. 5 singles, where Kinsey Lockhart rebounded from a first-set loss to grind out a three-set victory, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3. That result evened the overall score at 3-3 and left the semifinal to be decided at No. 2 singles.

There, Pugh and Hristina Ljuba played the most competitive match of the day. Ljuba edged a tightly contested first set in a tiebreak, but Pugh responded with steady play in the second and third sets. Using consistency and timely breaks, Pugh closed out a 6-4, 6-4 finish in the final two sets, securing the clinching point and sending OUAZ into the next round.

The match showcased OUAZ’s resilience—answering every shift in momentum and ultimately relying on depth and composure in the deciding moment. With the win, OUAZ advances to face top-seeded Lewis-Clark State Warriors in the semifinals.
Looking Ahead

Friday’s semifinal slate is now set, featuring Arizona Christian against Stanton and OUAZ against Lewis-Clark State. One matchup will test whether Arizona Christian’s efficiency holds against a higher seed, while the other pairs a battle-tested OUAZ squad with the tournament favorite after surviving the day’s most competitive match.