Terrier Twelve – #6: Women’s Tennis Claims 29th Conference Title

Returning for a 17th year, the Terrier Twelve recognizes the top achievements of Boston University teams and student-athletes from the previous year. Check back each Monday and Wednesday this summer as we unveil this year's Terrier Twelve on GoTerriers.com.

Coming in at number six in this year's Terrier Twelve is women's tennis, which earned its 29th conference title in program history with the Patriot League crown in May.

The Terriers competed in five fall tournaments, two of which were ITA contests. At ITA Regionals, freshman Madison Liu advanced out of the qualifying rounds to the Round of 64 in singles, going 3-1 overall in the tournament. Sophomore Uma Bakaityte and freshman Gabriella Mikaul competed at the ITA Patriot League Masters Qualifier at the end of the fall. Bakaityte fell in the singles final while she and Mikaul fell in the doubles final in the tournament, both to Navy.

In the spring, BU opened the weekend 1-1 with a loss to Dartmouth and a defeat of Bryant. The Terriers notably defeated Boston College, 4-3, on Feb. 7, marking the first time in 12 years they defeated the local ACC foe. BU went 6-1 in Patriot League dual matches, only losing to Army West Point, 4-3, at the end of the regular season.

The Terriers were the two seed in the Patriot League Championship and opened with a quarterfinal match against Colgate. BU posted a dominant 4-0 win to advance to the semifinal against third-seeded Navy, in which BU also won 4-0.

The Terriers faced top-seeded Army in the championship which was closely contested throughout. Bakaityte and Mikaul won their doubles match at the No. 1 spot, 6-3, and were backed by senior Nina Gulbransen and junior Emily Zhao who won their doubles match at the No. 3 spot, 6-4, to give BU a 1-0 lead headed into singles play. Liu won her match at the No. 3 spot for a 2-0 lead in the match before Army tied things up 2-2 with wins at the Nos. 1 and 4 spots. Mikaul then gave BU a 3-2 lead with a win at the No. 2 spot before Zhao clinched the victory with a 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (4) win at line five.

BU traveled to No. 12 Texas Tech for the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The Terriers held their own against the Red Raiders with Mikaul becoming just the sixth Terrier in program history to win a set in NCAA singles play, doing so at line two. BU dropped a 4-0 result to Texas Tech, ending the season with a 13-9 overall record.

Mikaul was named the Patriot League Tournament MVP and was subsequently named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year. She and Bakaityte received First Team All-Patriot League Honors while Liu was named to the second team. For her efforts in the classroom, Gulbransen made the Academic All-Patriot League Team.

Gulbransen also received the Paul Lewis Student-Athlete Service Award at the Scarlet & White Honors, which recognizes a senior student-athlete who has demonstrated a commitment to serving Boston University, the Department of Athletics, and the larger Boston community over the course of his or her time at BU. She was also a Scarlet Key recipient in the fall of 2024.

Mikaul, senior Sydney Sharma, sophomores Blanka DeMicheli and Ellie Gyuro, junior Rhea Rai and Gulbransen were all named ITA Scholar-Athletes, with the team being named an ITA All-Academic Team.

2024-25 Terrier Twelve
#7 – Women's Rowing Repeats as Patriot League Champions
#8 – Lightweight Rowing Fills Trophy Case in Historic Spring Slate
#9 – Men's Track & Field and Cross Country Stays Consistent Near Top of PL
#10 – Terriers Set GPA Records
#11 – Men's Soccer Repeats as PL Regular Season Champions
#12 – Men's Lacrosse Advances to PL Title Game for Second Straight Season

Schedule

Terrier Twelve – #6: Women’s Tennis Claims 29th Conference Title

Players Mentioned

Uma Bakaityte

Blanka DeMicheli

Nina Gulbransen

Ellie Gyuro

Madison Liu

Gabriella Mikaul

Rhea Rai

Sydney Sharma

Emily Zhao

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