ORLANDO, Fla. - The top-seeded VCU cruised to a 4-0 victory Thursday against No. 8 Duquesne to earn a spot in the Atlantic 10 Women's Tennis semifinals, held at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.

Though the doubles matches were tightly contested, VCU's top pair of Gabriela Davidescu and Luminita Tutunaru pulled out a 7-5 victory on court one. Alessia Ciuca and Shivani Manjanna then clinched the doubles point for the Rams with a 6-4 win at No. 3 doubles.

In singles action, VCU took the first set on each court except No. 6, where Duquesne's Lara Van der Merwe won 6-4. Noumea Witmus was the first to strike for VCU at court four, defeating Meredith Lee, 6-0, 6-0. Ciuca then gave the Rams a 3-0 match lead with her 6-0, 6-2 win at court No. 3.

VCU's top player, Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado, finished the match on court one, defeating Margot Pessy, 6-3, 6-0. 

With the win, the Rams will take on the winner of George Washington/Fordham in the semifinals on Friday.

MATCH #6 -#1 VCU def. #8 DUQUESNE, 4-0 
SINGLES
1. Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado (VCU) def. Margot Pessy (DUQ) 6-3, 6-0
2. Luminita Tutunaru (VCU) vs. Natasha Novak (DUQ) 6-2, 5-2, DNF
3. Alessia Ciuca (VCU) def. Ellen Shanahan (DUQ) 6-0, 6-2
4. Noumea Witmus (VCU) def. Meredith Lee (DUQ) 6-0, 6-0
5. Shivani Manjanna (VCU) vs. Ana Utrilla Benito (DUQ) 6-1, 4-2, DNF
6. Daniela Latoni (DUQ) vs. Lara Van der Merwe (VCU) 6-4, 3-2, DNF
Order of Finish: 4, 3, 1

DOUBLES
1. Gabriela Davidescu/Luminita Tutunaru (VCU) def. Margot Pessy/Meredith Lee (DUQ) 7-5
2. Noumea Witmus/Paola Exposito (VCU) vs. Ellen Shanahan/Daniela Latoni (DUQ) 5-5, DNF
3. Alessia Ciuca/Shivani Manjanna (VCU) def. Natasha Novak/Priyanka Mitta (DUQ) 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3

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ORLANDO, Fla. - The second-seeded Rhode Island Rams mounted a furious comeback to defeat seventh-seeded Saint Louis and advanced to the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Women's Tennis Championship, held at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.

Saint Louis struck first, earning the doubles point with victories at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. First, the duo of Elizabeth Mintusova and Mariona Perez defeated Rhode Island's Nadia Rajan and Erin Chratian, 6-2. Jessica Stefan and Mya Spencer gave SLU the opening point of the match with a 6-4 win on court two.

In singles action, Mintusova carried momentum from doubles play, taking down Rajan 6-1, 6-1 to put Saint Louis up 2-0. Stefan follow suit, defeating Halah Davis, 6-3, 6-3 for a 3-0 match lead.

At No. 2 singles, Rhody's Erin Chratian earned a point for the Rams with a 7-5, 6-2 victory, before Gracie Campanella won on court six, 6-2, 6-4 to bring the score within one. 

After dropping the second set, URI's Rachel Smilansky rallied to win the third set, 6-2 and even up the match at 3-3.

With just court four remaining, Tiara Higuchi and Spencer battled through the first two sets. Spencer took set one, while Higuchi won the tiebreak in set two, 7-6(5). Shortly into the third set, Spencer retired, giving the Rams the fourth and deciding point of the match.

With the win, the Rams advance to the semifinals and will take on the winner of Davidson/Richmond.

MATCH #7 - #2 RHODE ISLAND def. #7 SAINT LOUIS, 4-3
SINGLES
1. Elizabeth Mintusova (SLU) def. Nadia Rajan (URI) 6-1, 6-1
2. Erin Chratian (URI) def. Mariona Perez (SLU) 7-5, 6-2
3. Jessica Stefan (SLU) def. Halah Davis (URI) 6-3, 6-3
4. Tiara Higuchi (URI) def. Mya Spencer (SLU) 4-6, 7-6(5), 1-0 (ret.)
5. Rachel Smilansky (URI) def. Anna Derecka (SLU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
6. Gracie Campanella (URI) def. Nawal Cheema (SLU) 6-2, 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2, 6, 5, 4

DOUBLES
1. Elizabeth Mintusova/Mariona Perez (SLU) def. Nadia Rajan/Erin Chratian (URI) 6-2
2. Jessica Stefan/Mya Spencer (SLU) def. Sydney Chratian/Rachel Smilansky (URI) 6-4
3. Nawal Cheema/Anna Derecka (SLU) vs. Halah Davis/Paulina Loredo (URI) 5-4, DNF
Order of Finish: 1, 2