Metwally shines at Samford invitational to kick off her sophomore season

Troy tennis swings into fall season

Brady Fitch photo Gabrielle Leslie hits a forehand during the 2023-24 season.

The women’s tennis team finished up a strong opening invitational this past Sunday, going 13-4 in singles and 4-3 in doubles throughout the event.

This year’s team is comprised of all returning players and is two players smaller due to the graduation of former team captain Kristina Kukaras and Olivia Elliot.

Head coach Rawia Elsisi and the Trojans began the tournament with three tiebreak victories against host school Samford in singles, only dropping a single line despite the close margins.

Gabrielle Leslie clawed back and dominated in the tiebreak after a rough opening set to win 1-6, 6-3, 10-4 against. Leslie went on to secure a 6-1, 6-2 victory against Jacksonville State and a 6-7, 7-5, 10-8 win against Central Arkansas.

Sophomore Leena Metwally went an unbeaten 5-0 in singles and doubles matches throughout the duration of the invitational. She secured a tiebreak victory in her first singles match before beating Jacksonville State’s Lea Erenda 6-4, 6-0 and winning another tiebreak match on day three.

The doubles duo of Metwally and Hagar Ramadan-Amin went 2-0 by defeating Samford in a tiebreak 7-6 and dispatching a team from Central Arkansas 6-2.

Ramadan-Amin also added a 6-2, 3-6, 10-5 tiebreak victory in singles over Jacksonville State on Saturday.

Juniors Valeriia Avdeeva and Maria Guirguis both snagged two singles wins in straight sets over the weekend and added a 7-5 doubles win as a team against Central Arkansas.

Emilia Namyslo, who saw limited action in singles last season, collected wins over Samford and Jacksonville State to match her singles win total from last season.

Namyslo also paired up with Leslie for a 6-3 doubles victory against Central Arkansas.

The Trojans will swing back into action from Oct. 10 to Oct. 15 in the ITA Southern Regional in Auburn, Alabama. They will face stiff competition in multiple SEC and Sun Belt Conference teams.