SDSU Duo Wins Regional, Heads to NCAA Championships

Two San Diego State tennis players just proved that chemistry beats experience when Vessa Turley and Tea Lukic captured their first ITA Southwest Regional doubles championship in only their second tournament together.

The Aztec duo faced UCLA's Polina Marakhtanova and Koronayashe Rugara in Monday morning's final, falling 6-4 in the opening set. Instead of crumbling under pressure from the more established Bruins team, Turley and Lukic found their rhythm.

The second set turned into a battle of wills, with neither pair giving an inch through the first four games. The Aztecs clawed back to win 6-4, forcing a decisive 10-point tiebreaker that had the crowd on their feet.

In the tiebreaker, the lead changed hands repeatedly with neither team pulling ahead by more than two points. When it mattered most, Turley and Lukic found another gear, ultimately taking the tiebreaker 10-7 to claim the championship.

The victory marks five wins in three days for the pair. It also punches their ticket to Athens, Georgia for the 2026 NCAA Doubles Championships beginning November 17.

Why This Inspires

For Tea Lukic, this will be her first individual NCAA appearance. For Turley, it's a return trip after she qualified as a freshman in 2025 with former teammate Jo-Yee Chan.

Head Coach Nicolas Vinel couldn't hide his pride in the post-match interview. "It was one of the first times we didn't start off the way we wanted, and we lost the first set," he said. "I'm very proud of the way they were able to flip the script and come from behind."

What makes this win special isn't just the trophy. It's watching two athletes discover they're better together than apart, building trust and understanding with every match.

The partnership is still in its infancy, but the results speak volumes about what happens when talent meets determination and a willingness to grow together.

Come November, the Aztecs will step onto college tennis's biggest stage with momentum, confidence, and proof that the best partnerships are worth the wait.