CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The UNI women’s tennis team returns to action this weekend with a pair of road matches following its Spring opener last Saturday at the Black Hawk Tennis Center.
UNI opened the spring season with a 5-2 setback against Southeast Missouri State. Sophomore Andjela Raznatovic and freshman Lucia Schuknecht each earned singles victories to lead the Panthers. Raznatovic secured a straight set win at the No. 1 spot, while Scheknecht picked up an impressive victory at No. 3 singles in her first spring dual. Several Panthers made their spring dual debuts as UNI competed in its first home match of the season.
The Panthers hit the road for two non-conference contests. UNI will face Lindenwood on Friday, January 30, in St. Charles, Missouri, with first serve scheduled for 12:30 p.m. CT. UNI will then travel to Edwardsville, Illinois, to take on SIUE on Saturday, January 31, at 2:30 p.m. CT.
UNI returns three Cats from last season’s squad, including Andjela Raznatovic, Kanyanut Sudsaard, and Abbie Peterson, and welcomes six newcomers to the dual squad heading into the Spring. Raznatovic returns as UNI’s highest-rated returner from a season ago after playing most of the dual season in the fourth position. The only senior on the team, Sudsaard spent the 2025 dual season at the five spot while Peterson returns after a season at the six. Peterson sealed the Panthers’ victory over Drake last season with a singles point.
Lucia Schuknect joins the squad from Bottrop, Germany as a Juniors Association Champion in singles and runner-up in doubles. A member of the champion team of the Federal State Under 18 team championships, Schuknect had a highest universal tennis rating (UTR) of 7.94. A freshman from Belgrade, Serbia, Andrea Noa Galin comes to UNI after being the No. 1-ranked player in girls 16 and under in Serbia. She won the Serbian singles title in the girls 14 and under division and had a highest UTR of 8.27.
From Jakarta, Indonesia, Kayla Santosa was formerly ranked No. 2 in girls 18 and under in Indonesia and is a three-time ITF doubles finalist with a highest UTR of 7.42. A Chengdu, China native, Yangjiaxin Li had a highest UTR of 7.26 after being a member of the champion team of the Chinese High School Championships. She was a champion of Doubles and Mixed Doubles of the Sichuan Provincial Ranking Finals.
UNI’s newcomers from the states are Sedina Begic and Alyssa Meeky. A local product from Waterloo, Iowa, Begic made three Iowa State Tennis appearances and placed fourth in 2024 at State in doubles. Meeky comes to UNi from South Chicago, Illinois where she was an Illinois High School Tennis State qualifier.
UNI tennis action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Tennis), X (@UNITennis) and on Instagram (@uniwtennis). The 2025-26 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.