NEW ORLEANS — Behind a complete team effort that showcased depth, composure and competitive grit, the Florida A&M University women's tennis team eliminated fourth-seeded Southern University on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Tournament, winning 4-1 at City Park Tennis Center in New Orleans.

The fifth-seeded Rattlers wasted no time establishing control, winning the doubles point before riding that early momentum through a singles session that saw FAMU claim three of four completed matches. The victory ends Southern's tournament run and sends Florida A&M to the semifinals as one of the last four programs standing in the conference.

Setting the Tone in Doubles

FAMU's doubles performance laid the foundation for what would become a dominant team victory. The Rattlers went 2-0 in completed doubles action, with the pairing of Genesis Whitelock and Larissa Silva drawing first blood at the top of the lineup with a 7-5 win over Southern's Shahd Habib and Decora Antoine at No. 1 doubles. It was a tight, competitive match that required the Rattlers to hold their nerve late in the set before closing it out.

The pairing of Gabrielle Pierce and Reagan Harris reinforced the advantage at No. 3 doubles, handling Tshegofatso Tsiang and Samara Onwuteaka with authority, 6-2, to secure the doubles point for FAMU before singles competition began. With momentum firmly in hand, the Rattlers carried their confidence into individual play.

Singles Dominance Seals the Deal

Reagan Harris set the tone in singles with arguably the most impressive performance of the afternoon. The FAMU standout came out with relentless energy at the No. 3 position, shutting out Decora Antoine in the opening set 6-0 before closing out the match 7-6 in the second. Harris's ability to maintain that level of intensity across a competitive second set — one that required a tiebreak to decide — underscored her value as one of the Rattlers' most reliable contributors.

Genesis Whitelock, fresh off her doubles triumph, carried her momentum seamlessly into the singles draw. Playing at No. 2, Whitelock controlled the pace of her match from the outset, defeating Kai Wince 6-1, 6-3 in a performance that was as efficient as it was impressive. Her dominance across both disciplines Friday made her the unquestioned standout of the afternoon for Florida A&M.

Sydney Brantley provided the decisive point at No. 4 singles, grinding out a hard-fought 6-2, 7-5 victory over Shahd Habib. The second-set score line told the story of a player who refused to let Southern back into a match that was already tilting FAMU's way — a composed and gritty performance when the Rattlers needed it most.

Southern's lone point came from LaTesha Grant, who defeated FAMU's Luiza Eidelvein 6-2, 6-2 at No. 5 singles. The No. 1 and No. 6 singles matches were left unfinished once the overall result was determined.

Up Next

FAMU advances to play Jackson State in SWAC semifinals on Saturday at 11 a.m. EST.