Southeast Missouri State Women's Tennis Falls to Harvard, Faces Memphis Next

Redhawks show competitiveness despite 7-0 loss, look to bounce back against regional rival

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Southeast Missouri State Redhawks women's tennis team suffered a 7-0 defeat against Harvard University on Saturday in Memphis, Tennessee. Despite competitive individual matchups, the Redhawks were unable to overcome Harvard's strong overall performance. The team now turns its attention to a Sunday afternoon matchup against the University of Memphis, hoping to apply lessons learned and demonstrate their progress.

Why it matters

The loss to Harvard, a nationally ranked program, represents a significant challenge for the Redhawks as they work to elevate their tennis program. However, the coach's assessment highlights the team's competitiveness and commitment to continuous improvement, which will be crucial as they face another Division I opponent in Memphis, a regional rival.

The details

Harvard dominated the doubles competition, securing victories in all three matches. In the singles matches, several Redhawks players, including Sofia Zemtsova, Kristina Kozakova, and Mia Mayerova, demonstrated resilience by winning multiple games against their formidable opponents. The coach noted that the close contests, despite the overall loss, offered encouragement about the team's progress.

  • The match against Harvard took place on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
  • The Redhawks will face the University of Memphis on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. local time.

The players

Sofia Zemtsova

A Redhawks player who competed at the No. 3 singles position and won six games across her sets.

Kristina Kozakova

A Redhawks player who competed at the No. 4 singles position and won six games across her sets.

Mia Mayerova

A Redhawks player who competed at the No. 5 singles position and won six games across her sets.

Harvard University

A nationally ranked Division I tennis program that defeated the Redhawks 7-0.

University of Memphis

A regional rival that the Redhawks will face on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

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What they’re saying

“Harvard is ranked No. 73, and they're in a really good conference. If you were just watching from the outside, you wouldn't know who was winning. We were competitive; it just came down to deuce points. We're improving as the season goes on but we still have work to do.”

— SEMO Head Coach (newsdirectory3.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.