The Grand Canyon University (GCU) tennis team made a strong showing at the 2024 WAC Tennis Invitational, with two of its athletes, Dania Deaifi and Gala Arangio, competing in both the singles and doubles tournaments. The event held significant importance as a pathway to the prestigious ITA Conference Masters Tournament, which serves as a final entry opportunity into the NCAA Individual Championships.

Unleashing Their Potential: GCU's Rising Stars Dominate the Singles Bracket

Dania Deaifi and Gala Arangio, a junior and sophomore respectively, showcased their exceptional skills in the singles bracket. Deaifi, seeded sixth, swiftly dispatched the 11th-seeded Ana Gutierrez Sampere from Utah Tech, winning 6-1, 6-3. Meanwhile, the eighth-seeded Arangio overwhelmed the ninth-seeded Liliya Dimova of Seattle, cruising to a 6-2, 6-0 victory.The GCU duo's success, however, was short-lived as they faced tough competition in the quarterfinals, where they both suffered defeats. Undeterred, they quickly regrouped and turned their attention to the doubles tournament.

Doubles Dominance: GCU's Dynamic Duo Storms Through the Bracket

In the doubles tournament, Deaifi and Arangio, seeded fifth, faced a formidable challenge in the quarterfinals. They squared off against the fourth-seeded pair from Abilene Christian, Alice Klinteby and Masha Vrsalovic. The GCU duo showcased their resilience, staging a thrilling comeback to clinch a 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-8) victory.Buoyed by their quarterfinal triumph, Deaifi and Arangio continued their impressive run, taking down the top-seeded pair from Tarleton State, Ximena Morales and Emma Persson, in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. This victory propelled them into the highly anticipated doubles final on Sunday.

Battling for the Crown: GCU's Doubles Duo Narrowly Misses the Title

In the doubles final, Deaifi and Arangio faced off against the Seattle duo of Lamija Avdic and Liliya Dimova. The GCU pair started strong, claiming the first set 6-2. However, the Seattle duo fought back, taking the second set to force a decisive third-set tiebreaker. In a tightly contested affair, Avdic and Dimova ultimately prevailed, winning the tiebreaker 10-3 and clinching the doubles title.Despite the heartbreaking loss in the final, Deaifi and Arangio's impressive run throughout the tournament showcased their exceptional talent and potential. The GCU tennis program can take pride in the remarkable achievements of its rising stars, who have undoubtedly made a lasting impression on the WAC Invitational.As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Deaifi and Arangio as they continue to push the boundaries of their abilities and strive for even greater success in the upcoming Fall Invite in Tucson, scheduled for November 15-17.