ORLANDO, Fla. - The third-seeded Richmond Spiders swept the second-seeded Rhode Island Rams to advance to Saturday's Atlantic 10 Women's Tennis Championship, held at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.
The Spiders made quick work of doubles play, first with a 6-0 victory from Adrienne Haynes and Marta Buendia. UR's top pair of Emily Dunbar and Dessi Zlateva clinched the opening point of hte match with a 6-3 win, while court two finished at nearly the same time.
In singles play, Richmond's top three players finished in order to clinch the 4-0 team win and a berth to the final. Dunbar dropped just one game in her 6-0, 6-1 victory at top doubles to give UR a 2-0 advantage.
Zlateva was the next to complete her match, winning 6-2, 6-4 at second doubles against Erin Chratian. Andy Campodonico clinched the team victory with a 6-2, 6-2 defeat of Halah Davis on court three.
The Spiders will face off against the top seed and cross-town rival, VCU in a rematch of the 2019 Championship final, on Saturday at 3:00 pm.
MATCH #11 - #3 RICHMOND def. #2 RHODE ISLAND, 4-0
SINGLES
1. Emily Dunbar (UR) def. Nadia Rajan (URI) 6-0, 6-1
2. Dessi Zlateva (UR) def. Erin Chratian (URI) 6-2, 6-4
3. Andy Campodonico (UR) def. Halah Davis (URI) 6-2, 6-2
4. Polina Shitikova (UR) vs. Tiara Higuchi (URI) 6-4, 4-1, DNF
5. Rachel Smilansky (URI) Sara Salemyr (UR) 7-5, 1-1, DNF
6. Adrienne Haynes (UR) Gracie Campanella (URI) 6-3, 1-6, DNF
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
DOUBLES
1. Emily Dunbar/Dessi Zlateva (UR) def. Nadia Rajan/Erin Chratian (URI) 6-3
2. Andy Campodonico/Sara Salemyr (UR) def. Rachel Smilansky/Sydney Chratian (URI) 6-2
3. Adrienne Haynes/Marta Buendia (UR) def. Halah Davis/Paulina Loredo (URI) 6-0
Order of Finish: 3, 1
ORLANDO, Fla. - The top-seeded VCU Rams earned a 4-0 victory against No. 4 George Washington in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Women's Tennis Championship Friday, held at the USTA National Campus in Orlando. The Rams will look to capture their 7th A-10 title in Saturday's matchup against Richmond at 3:00 pm.
VCU got an early match point in the doubles action, winning at courts three and two. The pair of Alessia Ciuca and Shivani Manjanna went a perfect 6-0 against Charlotte Bell and Alexandra Vesikaliio for the first point, before Noumea Witmus and Paola Exposito clinched with a 7-5 victory at No. 2 doubles.
The Rams took the first set in five of the six matches, with George Washington's Stella Wiesemann taking a 6-1 set from Exposito Diaz-Delgado. Manjanna was the first Ram to finish at No. 6 singles, downing Lindsay Thompson, 6-1, 6-1. Ciuca ompleted a 6-0, 6-2 victory at No 3 singles shortly thereafter, giving VCU a 3-0 match lead.
Gabriela Davidescu clinched the 4-0 victory on court four with a 6-2, 6-2 win against Alexandra Vesikaliio.
The Rams will take on cross-town rival, No. 3 Richmond, in Saturday's Championship. VCU has appeared in every A-10 Women's Tennis Championship final since joining the A-10 in 2013 and have won six Championship titles.
MATCH #10 - #1 VCU def. #4 GEORGE WASHINGTON, 4-0
SINGLES
1. Stella Wiesemann (GW) vs. Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado (VCU) 6-1, 3-4, DNF
2. Luminita Tutunaru (VCU) vs. Alexis Nelson (GW) 6-3, 1-3, DNF
3. Alessia Ciuca (VCU) def. Alexandra Vesikaliio (GW) 6-0, 6-2
4. Gabriela Davidescu (VCU) def. Sarah Bodewes (GW) 6-2, 6-2
5. Noumea Witmus (VCU) vs. Charlotte Bell (GW) 6-1, 3-3, DNF
6. Shivani Manjanna (VCU) def. Lindsay Thompson (GW) 6-1, 6-1
Order of Finish: 6, 3, 4
DOUBLES
1. Gabriela Davidescu/Luminita Tutunaru (VCU) vs. Sarah Bodewes/Stella Wiesemann (GW) 6-5, DNF
2. Noumea Witmus/Paola Exposito (VCU) def. Alexis Nelson/Lindsay Thompson (GW) 7-5
3. Alessia Ciuca/Shivani Manjanna (VCU) def. Charlotte Bell/Alexandra Vesikaliio (GW) 6-0
Order of Finish: 3, 2