San Diego State Surges Past Grand Canyon, Advances to Mountain West Championship Clash vs. UNLV

Jayna Clemens delivers clutch three-set comeback as Aztecs chase NCAA berth and third conference title

LAS VEGAS | The top-seeded San Diego State Aztecs women's tennis are one win away from championship glory.

San Diego State punched its ticket to the Mountain West Championship match Friday with a gritty 4-2 semifinal victory over Grand Canyon Lopes women's tennis at the Darling Tennis Center, setting up a high-stakes showdown against No. 3 seed UNLV Rebels women's tennis.

With the win, the Aztecs improve to 20-3 overall — marking just the eighth 20-win season in program history and their first since 2013. Now, they stand on the brink of securing the program’s third Mountain West Tournament title and an automatic berth into the NCAA Championships.

San Diego State faced early adversity after dropping the doubles point, as Grand Canyon seized momentum with wins on Courts 2 and 3. But the Aztecs responded with resilience — a theme that defined the match.

Jo-Yee Chan ignited the comeback with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win at the No. 1 singles spot, leveling the score and setting the tone. However, Grand Canyon quickly answered, as Hams Metwally edged Vesa Gjinaj in straight sets to briefly reclaim the lead.

What followed was a high-drama stretch, with four remaining singles matches all pushed to decisive third sets.

Teja Tirunelveli was the first to break through, grinding out a 7-5 third-set victory on Court 5. Moments later, Liisa Varul delivered another crucial point, closing out her match 6-4 in the final set to swing momentum firmly in favor of the Aztecs.

That set the stage for a dramatic finish — and Jayna Clemens delivered.

After dropping the opening set 6-1 on Court 3, Clemens staged a remarkable comeback, dominating the second-set tiebreak 7-1 before cruising 6-2 in the final set. Her victory clinched the match and sent San Diego State into the championship round.

Now, all eyes turn to Saturday’s final against UNLV, where the Aztecs will look to cap their standout season with a conference crown and a return to the national stage.

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-- By Michael R. Thomas

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Maryland Stuns No. 12 USC, Advances to Big Ten Semifinals in Historic Breakthrough

Ema Kovacevic delivers the clincher as Terps secure first conference semifinal berth since 1998, set showdown with Michigan

COLUMBUS, Ohio | In a defining moment for the program, the No. 7-seeded Maryland Terrapins women's tennis pulled off a statement victory Friday, knocking off No. 2-seeded and No. 12-ranked USC Trojans women's tennis, 4-2, to advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals for the first time in program history.

The Terps (18-6) delivered under pressure, combining dominant doubles play with clutch singles performances to secure their highest-ranked win in more than a decade — a milestone not reached since a 2013 victory over No. 11 Duke.

At the center of the celebration was Ema Kovacevic, who sealed the match in emphatic fashion. After grinding out a tense first-set tiebreak (10-8), Kovacevic surged in the second set, closing it out 6-2 to send Maryland into the semifinals — and into a mob of celebrating teammates.

Maryland’s path to victory began with a commanding doubles performance. The duo of Diya Challa and Emma Ghirardato upset USC’s nationally ranked pair, while Tamari Gagoshidze and Kovacevic followed with a decisive 6-2 win to secure the early 1-0 advantage.