ORLANDO, Fla. - The top-seeded VCU Rams won their fourth consecutive and eighth Atlantic 10 Women's Tennis Championship on Saturday, defeating No. 3 Fordham via a 4-0 sweep at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.
The Rams' pair of Gabriela Davidescu and Shivani Manjanna got off to a quick start at No. 1 doubles, opening up an early lead before eventually taking the victory, 6-2. At third doubles, VCU's Nina Sorkin and Yelizaveta Karlova paired up for a victory, 6-4, over Carlota Casasampere and Rachelle Yang.
In singles action, the Rams' Sorkin, Karlova and Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado all took the first sets at courts 3, 2, and 1, respectively. Sorkin came in hot at No. 3 singles, 6-1, 6-1, over Eleni Fasoula. Ram's No. 1 Diaz-Delgado was flawless in her first set over Avery Aude, 6-0. She then closed out her singles play at the No. 1 court 6-3.
Karlova sealed the deal for VCU at the No. 2 position behind a 6-0, 6-3 win against Valeriya Deminova, securing their fourth consecutive and eighth title for the Rams.
With their win, the Rams earn the Atlantic 10 Automatic Qualifer to the NCAA Team Championship, with seedings set to be announced on Monday, May 2 via NCAA.com.
MATCH #12
#1 VCU def. #3 FORDHAM, 4-0
SINGLES
1. Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado (VCU) def. Avery Aude (FOR), 6-2, 6-1
2. Yelizaveta Karlova (VCU) def. Valeriya Deminova (FOR), 6-0, 6-3
3. Nina Sorkin (VCU) def. Eleni Fasoula (FOR), 6-1, 6-1
4. Gabriela Davidescu (VCU) vs. Carlota Casasampere (FOR), 6-3, 4-4, DNF
5. Anja Draskovic (VCU) vs. Nicole Li (FOR), 6-4, 3-1, DNF
6. Shivani Manjanna (VCU) vs. Lorraine Bergmann (FOR), 6-1, 5-5, DNF
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
DOUBLES
1. Gabriela Davidescu/Shivani Manjanna (VCU) def. Avery Aude/Valeriya Deminova (FOR), 6-2
2. Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado/Laura Garcia Astudillo (VCU) vs. Eleni Fasoula/Nicole Li (FOR), 3-3, DNF
3. Nina Sorkin/Yelizaveta Karlova (VCU) def. Carlota Casasampere/Rachelle Yang (FOR), 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3