Charleston Southern University’s women’s tennis team ended its 2026 season on May 1 after a match against the University of North Carolina in the opening round of the NCAA Women’s Tennis Championship in Chapel Hill.
The Buccaneers faced a strong opponent in North Carolina, who entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed. The match highlighted Charleston Southern’s ability to compete at a high level, even as they fell short against one of the top-ranked teams.
North Carolina secured an early advantage by winning doubles matches on courts two and three. Charleston Southern’s top pair, Marina Skegro and Carlota Farres Carreter, kept pace with their nationally-ranked opponents on court one before their match was left unfinished at a 3-3 tie when UNC clinched the doubles point.
In singles play, UNC won three matches in straight sets to seal their victory and advance to the next round. Despite these results, several Charleston Southern players showed determination. Skegro was tied early in her second set against Reese Brantmeier when play stopped. Brenda Yoris leveled her second set at 3-3 before her match was halted. Carle Botha also pushed her second set to a tie late into play before it ended unfinished.
The official results included victories for UNC’s Maddy Zampardo over Farres Carreter (6-0, 6-3), Anna Frey over Camila Molina Barranco (6-0, 6-0), and Thea Rabman over Amike Botha (6-0, 6-2). Other singles matches were left unfinished but reflected competitive efforts from Charleston Southern athletes.
The Buccaneers’ appearance in this year’s NCAA Tournament marks an important achievement for the program and offers valuable experience as they look ahead to future seasons.
