The Western Carolina women's tennis team ended its 2025-26 season at the Southern Conference Championships, losing 4-0 to top-seeded Furman. Furman advances to the semifinals against Wofford, who defeated Samford 4-0. Despite a strong showing from WCU, including first-set wins in singles play, they could not overcome Furman's dominance in doubles. Notably, Mariya Dobreva, an All-SoCon selection, retired from her match due to injury after trailing against Furman's Player of the Year. The match concluded as Furman secured victory with wins on the fourth and fifth courts.

By the Numbers
  • WCU secured two first-set wins in singles play.
  • Mariya Dobreva led WCU with 10 singles victories this season.
Yes, But

While WCU showed resilience and competitiveness, their early season struggles and a key injury in this match significantly impacted their performance against a formidable Furman team.

State of Play
  • WCU ended its season with a loss in the SoCon Championships.
  • Furman advances to the semifinals, maintaining their top seed status.
What's Next

Furman will face Wofford in the semifinals. For WCU, the offseason will focus on recovery and recruitment to strengthen their roster for the next season.

Bottom Line

The loss highlights the need for WCU to bolster its lineup and address injury management as they aim for a stronger performance in the upcoming season.