Bearkat Invitational
Gajete leads A Flight sweep at Bearkat Invitational
10/20/2026 7:37:00 PM | Women's Tennis
HUNTSVILLE – Maria Gajete captured the A Flight singles championship as Sam Houston swept the top three finishing positions at the Bearkat Invitational over the weekend at the Chuck and Wanda Beckner Tennis Center.
Gajete defeated teammate Veronika Muzichenko 6-4, 6-3 in the championship match to complete a 3-0 weekend. The freshman opened with a 5-7, 6-2, 10-4 comeback victory over Lamar's Martina Alcaino before defeating teammate Anamaria Kurtsikashvili 6-2, 7-5 in the semifinals.
Muzichenko reached the final with a pair of straight-set victories. She defeated Lamar's Jevrosima Mitic 6-3, 6-1 in the opening round before earning a 6-3, 6-4 semifinal victory over Lamar's Arina Gudovskaya.
Kurtsikashvili completed the Bearkats' sweep by rallying to defeat Gudovskaya 3-6, 7-6, 10-5 in the third-place match. The junior opened the tournament with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Stephen F. Austin's Avery Kinsey.
"I was pleased with the results of the A Flight singles as our three players in that top division captured first, second and third place," head coach Rob Hubbard said. "The two freshmen, Maria Gajete and Veronika Muzichenko, have continued to improve and produce strong results this fall, with our veteran, Anamaria Kurtsikashvili, helping to lead the way."
Sara Khamitova added another singles victory in the B Flight, defeating Lamar's Livia Espirito Santo 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the semifinals.
The Bearkats were unable to advance a team into the semifinals of the main doubles draw, which was won by Northwestern State's Nico Tagami and Zala Vnuk.
"Our doubles had a couple of opportunities to advance but came up short," Hubbard said. "I'm looking to really focus more in that direction with our training this fall so as to improve and prepare for January and our spring season."
The Kats will close their fall schedule at the Texas State Invitational on Nov. 7-8 in San Marcos.
2026 BEARKAT INVITATIONAL RESULTS – Oct. 16-18, 2026
A FLIGHT SINGLES
Quarterfinals – Anamaria Kurtsikashvili (SHSU) def. Avery Kinsey (SFA) 6-1, 6-4
Quarterfinals – Maria Gajete (SHSU) def. Martina Alcaino (LU) 5-7, 6-2, 10-4
Quarterfinals – Veronika Muzichenko (SHSU) def. Jevrosima Mitic (LU) 6-3, 6-1
Semifinals – Gajete (SHSU) def. Kurtsikashvili (SHSU) 6-2, 7-5
Semifinals – Muzichenko (SHSU) def. Arina Gudovskaya (LU) 6-3, 6-4
Final – Gajete (SHSU) def. Muzichenko (SHSU) 6-4, 6-3
Third-place match – Kurtsikashvili (SHSU) def. Gudovskaya (LU) 3-6, 7-6, 10-5
B FLIGHT SINGLES
Quarterfinals – Sara Khamitova (SHSU) def. Livia Espirito Santo (LU) 6-2, 6-3
Quarterfinals – Juliane Koschinski (SFA) def. Viktorie Zidelova (SHSU) 6-3, 6-3
Quarterfinals – Lira Zaginayko (LU) def. Emma Nordin (SHSU) 6-0, 6-1
Semifinals – Athina Grigoriadou (NSU) def. Khamitova (SHSU) 6-3, 6-1
Consolation – Espirito Santo (LU) def. Zidelova (SHSU) 6-3, 3-6, 10-8
Consolation – Varvara Popadina (LU) def. Nordin (SHSU) 6-1, 6-0
Third-place match – Nico Tagami (NSU) def. Khamitova (SHSU) 6-0, 6-0
Additional match – Espirito Santo (LU) def. Nordin (SHSU), default (injury)
DOUBLES DRAW
First round – Alcaino/Espirito Santo (LU) def. Gajete/Nordin (SHSU) 6-1
Quarterfinals – Tagami/Vnuk (NSU) def. Muzichenko/Zidelova (SHSU) 6-1
Quarterfinals – Mitic/Popadina (LU) def. Kurtsikashvili/Khamitova (SHSU) 6-3
Compass match – Kinsey/Koschinski (SFA) def. Muzichenko/Zidelova (SHSU), score not reported
Compass match – Gudovskaya/Zaginayko (LU) def. Kurtsikashvili/Khamitova (SHSU) 7-6
