ORLANDO, Fla. – Seventh-seeded George Washington defeated No. 10 Rhode Island 4-0 while No. 8 Richmond defeated No. 9 Duquesne 4-1 in the opening round of the 2022 Atlantic 10 Women’s Tennis Championship at the USTA National Campus on Wednesday.

George Washington advances to face No. 2 Massachusetts on Thursday at 5:30 pm.

George Washington set the tone by winning the doubles point thanks to victories at the No. 2 and No. 1 courts. Stella Wiesemann and Charlotte Bell won 6-3 at No. 1 over Rhode Island’s sister duo of Erin and Sydney Chratian, while Katarina Marinkovik and Alexandra Vesikallio won 6-0 over Rhody’s Tiara Higuchi and Klara Nelander.
 
Alexandra Vesikallio stamped the first singles win for George Washington, defeating Tiara Higuchi 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3. Katarina Marinkovikj then earned the Colonials' first point with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 2 singles over Erin Chratian. Stella Wiesemann stamped a win on the top court 7-6 (1), 6-3, securing the match win for GW.
 
Richmond won the double points by capturing wins at the No. 2 and No. 1 courts. The duo of Carly Cohen and Marta Buendia defeated Daniela Latoni and Blanca Benet Garcia 7-6v7) at No. 2.  Emily Dunbar and Sara Salemyr then secured the doubles point for the Spiders with a 6-3 win over Meredith Lee and Priyanki Mitta at No. 1. 

Richmond closed out the win with a quartet of singles victories, starting with Marta Buendia's 5-2 win over Ana Utrilla Benito at No. 5. Meredith Lee followed with a victory at No. 6 singles 6-1, 6-0 over Emily Garvin. Emily Dunbar then earned a win at No.1 6-2, 6-2 against Margot Pessy. Sara Salemyr solidified the team victory with a win over Natasha Novak at the No. 4 position, 6-4, 6-0.


 MATCH #3 
#8 RICHMOND def. #9 DUQUESNE, 4-1 
SINGLES 
1. Emily Dunbar (UR) def. Margot Pessy (DUQ), 6-2, 6-2 
2. Carly Cohen (UR) vs. Ellen Shanahan (DUQ), 6-2, 5-4, DNF 
3. Daniela Latoni (DUQ) vs. Helene Heiberg (UR), 6-2, 4-6, DNF 
4. Sara Salemyr (UR) def. Natasha Novak (DUQ), 6-4, 6-0 
5. Marta Buendia (UR) vs. Ana Utrilla Benito (DUQ), 5-2 (opp. ret.) 
6. Meredith Lee (DUQ) def. Emily Garvin (UR), 6-1, 6-0 
Order of Finish: 5, 6, 1, 4 

DOUBLES 
1. Emily Dunbar/Sara Salemyr (UR) def. Meredith Lee/Priyanki Mitta (DUQ), 6-3 
2. Carly Cohen/Marta Buendia (UR) def. Daniela Latoni/Blanca Benet Garcia (DUQ), 7-6 (7) 
3. Ellen Shanahan/Ana Utrilla Benito (DUQ) def. Helene Heiberg/Emily Garvin (UR), 6-0 
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2

 
 MATCH #4 
#7 GEORGE WASHINGTON def. #10 RHODE ISLAND, 4-0 
SINGLES 
1. Stella Wiesemann (GW) def. Nadia Rajan (URI), 7-6 (1), 6-3 
2. Katarina Marinkovikj (GW) def. Erin Chratian (URI), 6-2, 6-1 
3. Alexandra Vesikallio (GW) def. Tiara Higuchi (URI), 6-1, 6-1 
4. Lindsay Thompson (GW) vs. Paulina Loredo (URI), 6-4, 1-6, 0-1, DNF 
5. Klara Nelander (URI) vs. Charlotte Bell (GW), 7-6 (4), 2-1, DNF 
6. Lara McNaughten (GW) vs. Sydney Chratian (URI), 7-5, 4-3, DNF 
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1 

DOUBLES 
1. Katarina Marinkovikj/Alexandra Vesikallio (GW) def. Tiara Higuchi/Klara Nelander (URI), 6-0 
2. Stella Wiesemann/Charlotte Bell (GW) def. Erin Chratian/Sydney Chratian (URI), 6-3 
3. Lindsay Thompson/Sarah Bodewes (GW) vs. Nadia Rajan/Paulina Loredo (URI), 5-1, DNF 
Order of Finish: 2, 1