Mountaineers Wrap Up Fall Opener at UTR Charleston

Friday, September 18

Charleston, W.Va.

9:30 a.m.

West Virginia University

UTR Charleston

Lyla Byers awaits a serve during the 2025 Wahoowa Invitational

September 20, 2026 05:48 PM | Tennis

Tournament Results

By: Jaret Dyer

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University tennis team wrapped up its opening tournament of the fall season Sunday at the UTR Charleston, with three Mountaineers advancing to the semifinals and Lyla Byers claiming the back-draw championship.

Rio Maeda and Sorana Matis each advanced to the semifinals of the main draw, while Byers won three matches in the back draw to finish the weekend with a championship.

Maeda opened the tournament with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Crystal Emboi before defeating Clara Sobius, 6-0, 6-1, in the round of 16. Maeda then rallied past Nour El Ouazzani, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5, in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals. She fell to Johanna Strom, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Matis advanced through the main draw with wins over Sammi Liu, 6-2, 6-2, and Polina Gumeniuk, 6-4, 1-6, 6-1. She dropped her semifinal match to Ksenia Mamontova, 0-6, 7-5, 7-5.

Lucia Tognoni and Sosanna Malaak each picked up wins in the opening round. Tognoni defeated Tahnne Alvarez, 6-0, 6-0, before falling to Mamontova, 7-5, 6-2. Malaak earned a 6-2, 6-2 win over Vanessa Mueller before falling to Nour El Ouazzani, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6, in the round of 16.

Byers opened the weekend in the main draw before moving to the back draw. She defeated Alvarez, 6-0, 6-2, in the quarterfinals and followed with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Isona Llopart in the semifinals. Byers then defeated Liu, 6-4, 6-0, in the championship match.

Sela Byers also competed in the back draw, falling to Liu, 6-0, 6-0, in the quarterfinals.

West Virginia returns to action Sept. 25-27 at the Penn Invitational in Philadelphia, Pa.

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUTennis on X, Facebook and Instagram.