Surprise, Ariz. — The record-breaking season for the University of Findlay women's tennis team came to an end on Wednesday, May 20 in the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals. The #14 Oilers fell to #6 Catawba College, 4-0, at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Club. With the loss, Findlay closes out its monumental 2026 campaign with a 22-2 overall record, marking the most wins in a single season in program history. The defeat also snaps a 21-match win streak, which stands as the longest winning streak ever recorded by an Oilers' women's tennis team.
Without a doubt, this squad cements its legacy as the best team in program history. They became the first team to ever earn a trip to the NCAA Division II National Championship tournament, and the first to ever win a match on the national stage.
In Wednesday's quarterfinal match, the Catawba Indians grabbed the early momentum during doubles play. At the No. 2 flight, Sofia Antolini and Rin Igarashi defeated Ivanova Lucera and Valentina Salek 6-3. Catawba then clinched the doubles point at No. 3, as Agata Budnik and Tina Gomes topped Maria Batinic and Polina Zaytseva 6-2. Findlay's 18th-ranked top duo of Kovacevic and Audrey Ouellet were leading the 9th-ranked pair of Lili Drukerova and Ami Miya 5-4 when the point was secured, leaving their match unfinished.
Catawba's momentum carried into singles play. Lili Drukerova earned a 6-2, 6-1 win over Zaytseva at the No. 4 flight to make it 2-0. At No. 1 singles, the 26th-ranked Antolini defeated Kovacevic 6-3, 6-2. The overall match was then officially clinched at the No. 5 spot, as Katya Kldiashvili topped Ouellet 6-4, 6-1 to seal the 4-0 sweep and send the Indians to the national semifinals.
When the dual was decided, the remaining three singles flights were abandoned, though Findlay was battling tightly across the board. Maria Batinic had split sets against #69 Hanna Bougouffa at No. 2 singles (2-6, 6-2, 0-3). Valentina Salek was highly competitive against #46 Ami Miya at No. 3 singles (6-4, 4-5), and Ivanova Lucera was closing in on a victory at No. 6 singles, leading Rin Igarashi 6-4, 4-2.
This ends the career of Findlay's winningest player in program history. Anamarija Kovacevic wraps up her time in the Orange and Black with 85 career doubles victories and 74 career singles victories, both of which are the most in school history.
