Georgia Southern Tennis Splits Matches, Defeats Alcorn State & Falls to Mississippi State

The Eagles earned a 4-0 win over Alcorn State before falling 5-2 to host Mississippi State.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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The Georgia Southern women's tennis team experienced a split result on Friday, defeating Alcorn State 4-0 before falling to Mississippi State 5-2 at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre in Starkville, Mississippi. The Eagles swept the doubles matches against Alcorn State, with Evelyn Warkentin, Franzi Heinemann, and Nanaka Kijima each earning singles victories. However, Mississippi State claimed the doubles point and secured the overall match with straight-set singles wins.

Why it matters

Facing a strong SEC opponent like Mississippi State, even in a loss, can be a valuable experience for a team like Georgia Southern. The close matches suggest the Eagles are competitive and capable of challenging themselves against higher-ranked programs, potentially building confidence and identifying areas for improvement.

The details

Against Alcorn State, Georgia Southern secured its first win of the day, sweeping all three doubles matches. Evelyn Warkentin, Franzi Heinemann, and Nanaka Kijima each earned straight-set singles victories, clinching the 4-0 win. However, in the match against Mississippi State, the Bulldogs claimed the doubles point and ultimately secured the 5-2 victory with straight-set singles wins at No. 5, No. 2, and No. 3. Evelyn Warkentin earned a point for the Eagles with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles, and Mackenzie Leopold added another point for Georgia Southern, winning a three-set match at No. 4 singles.

  • The match against Alcorn State was the first meeting between the two programs in school history.
  • Georgia Southern is scheduled to continue play on Sunday, taking on Georgia State at 10 a.m. in Atlanta.

The players

Evelyn Warkentin

A Georgia Southern player who earned a point for the Eagles with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles against Mississippi State.

Franzi Heinemann

A Georgia Southern player who secured a straight-set singles victory against Alcorn State.

Nanaka Kijima

A Georgia Southern player who earned a straight-set singles victory against Alcorn State.

Mackenzie Leopold

A Georgia Southern player who added another point for the Eagles, winning a three-set match at No. 4 singles against Mississippi State.

Sean McCaffrey

The head coach of the Georgia Southern women's tennis team, who commented on the team's performance in the matches.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

Georgia Southern is scheduled to continue play on Sunday, taking on Georgia State at 10 a.m. in Atlanta.

The takeaway

Facing a strong SEC opponent like Mississippi State, even in a loss, can be a valuable experience for a team like Georgia Southern. The close matches suggest the Eagles are competitive and capable of challenging themselves against higher-ranked programs, potentially building confidence and identifying areas for improvement.