JONESBORO, Ark. (4/23/25) – Arkansas State women's tennis opens play at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Thursday, taking on Georgia State at the Rome Tennis Center in Rome, Ga.

A-State (12-10, 5-6 SBC) is seeded ninth in the 10-team field, and takes the court against the eighth-seeded Panthers (6-12, 5-5) at 9 a.m. CT. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+, with the winner moving on to face top-seeded Old Dominion in Friday's quarterfinal round.

"This team is ready to battle and give it all they have got," A-State head coach Sujay Lama said. "The key for us is to play freely with conviction and to embrace each moment."

NOTABLES:

• Arkansas State is seeking its first win in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament since 2015.
• Loles Carbo Chova became the first A-State player to be named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, and she also earned Second Team Singles All-SBC honors to become the program's first singles all-conference honoree since 2019. Carbo Chova is 9-0 in Sun Belt Conference play this year and 15-1 this spring.
• A-State is 11-1 this season when clinching the doubles point.
• The Red Wolves' 12 wins are the most since the 2009 squad won 12 matches.
• A-State's five conference wins is the most since 2000 (7).
• Sujay Lama's 20 wins through his first season-plus is the third most wins by an A-State tennis coach in their first two seasons, two shy of matching Marcia Williams (1985-86, 22), and one away from tying Sara Wooley (21, 1979-80) for second.

SERIES HISTORY:
Georgia State: 0-6

TEAM LEADERS:
Singles wins (Overall): Loles Carbo Chova – 23
Singles wins (Dual): Loles Carbo Chova – 15
Doubles wins (Overall): Lilly Cvanciger/Abigail Thurmer – 14
Doubles wins (Dual): Lilly Cvanciger/Abigail Thurmer – 10