By Ava Rath, Contributing Writer

Auburn, AL — On the week of October 13 through 17, the University of South Alabama Women’s Tennis team  traveled to the plains of Auburn University to compete in the ITA Division I Southern  Regional Championships. Six of the team’s seven players began their tournament  journey in the qualifying rounds on Monday, October 13, while sophomore Rio Madea  had already secured a spot in the main draw, which began on Tuesday, October 14.  

Advancing to the main draw were Kenza Elakili, Manal Ennaciri, and Cristina  Tchanichev. Among them, junior Manal Ennaciri delivered a standout performance that  became a tournament highlight for South Alabama.  

The Mohammedia, Morocco native, started strong in the qualifiers, defeating players  from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and McNeese State University to  advance. Once in the main draw, Ennaciri continued her momentum, notching victories  over players from Troy University, Jacksonville State, and Mississippi State University.  

Her remarkable run led her to the quarterfinals, where she faced off against the  University of Alabama’s Kristina Paskauskas. Though she ultimately fell in that match,  Ennaciri made program history. She was the only non-SEC or Power 4 conference  athlete to reach the quarterfinals — proudly representing both South Alabama and the  Sun Belt Conference on one of collegiate tennis’s biggest regional stages.  

This tournament not only marked a successful week for the Lady Jags but also offered a  promising glimpse into what fans can expect from the team during the upcoming Spring  2026 season.  

Next, the Jaguars will travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, over Halloween weekend to compete in the Roberta Alison Fall Classic, held October 31–November 1.