NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Alexandra Starkova era jumped out to a quick start Friday in the 2026 fall season opener. Lamar University advanced three players to flight finals and had a doubles team advance into the winner's bracket. All told Lamar brought home 10 victories in Friday's opening day of action in the Lady Demon Invitational.
 
Sophomore Lera Zaginayko and senior Martina Alcaino got the day started with hot starts in the Purple Draw. Alcaino got by Sam Houston's Anamaria Khamitova in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, to advance. Alcaino had a tougher path to victory in the semifinals but still prevailed taking a three-set decision over Northwestern State's Athina Grigoriadou. After dropping the opening set, Alcaino rallied to win the match in a super tiebreak, 3-6, 6-3, 10-8.
 
The top half of the bracket saw Zaginayko follow a similar script. Zaginayko defeated NSU's Thea Garnier, 6-1, 6-4, and before going the distance against Sam Houston's Anamaria Kurtsikashvili. Zaginayko dropped the first set but rallied to win in a super tiebreak, 2-6, 7-5, 10-6.
 
Both Alcaino and Zaginayko played in the same flight but will not face each other in the finals. LU's duo will square off against a Northwestern State pair that also advanced to the finals in a different flight from LU.  
 
Junior Arina Gudovskaya has also advanced to the finals of the Yellow Flight after the first day of competition. Gudovskaya took down Stephen F. Austin's Avery Kinsey, 6-3, 6-2. In the next round she matched up with Sam Houston's Ivona Savekov. Gudovskaya jumped out to an early lead and never looked back defeating the Bearkat, 6-3, 6-4. Gudovskaya is slated to face Sara Sadadinovic (also from Sam Houston) in the flight final.
 
Gudovskaya also picked up a doubles victory Friday teaming up with transfer Jevrosima Mitic.
 
Matches resume Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with the second round of doubles competition. All matches will be played at the Jack Fisher Lady Tennis Complex.