ORLANDO, Fla. - No. 3 University of Massachusetts tennis defeated the No. 8 University of Richmond, 4-2, to take home the program's third Atlantic 10 Championship Title at the USTA National Campus on Saturday evening. The Minutewomen take home the title for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
With the win, UMass punched its ticket into the NCAA Women's Tournament, and hold an overall record of 15-7 on the year. It also marked the seventh straight victory for the Minutewomen. Richmond capped off the year with an 11-11 record overall.
The Minutewomen got off to a quick start in doubles action, as partners Danielle Hack and Thamonpan Jonglertrakul downed Claire Le Du and Andrea Campodonico of Richmond, 6-1, at No. 1. The point came down to the wire at both courts No. 2 and No.3, with both heading into a 6-6 tiebreak. The duo of Renata Farima and Mariana Campino secured the doubles point with a 7-6(7) win over the Spiders' Lainey O'Neil and Elizabeth Novak at No. 3 doubles.
Ella Faessler and Amelia Tye led 1-0 in the 6-6 tiebreak at court No. 2 before the match came to a halt.
In singles play, Hack rolled out an early 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 1 over Richmond's Andrea Campodonico to make it a 2-0 lead for the Minutewomen. Campino finished with a 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 4 singles to extend UMass' lead, 3-0. The Spiders picked up a point at court No. 2 as Carly Cohen won 7-5, 6-4 over Jonglertrakul, before grabbing another point at No. 3 with Leonor Oliveira winning 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 against Faessler. Farima clinched the match for Massachusetts with a deciding point at 40-all in the second set at No. 5 singles. Farima downed Novak of Richmond, 7-6, 6-3, for the Minutewomen victory.
Polina Akimova and Polina Shitikova of the Spiders were tied heading into their third set as the match came to an end.
Massachusetts will await to know where and when they will play in the NCAA Tournament, with the Selection Show on Monday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. The Selection Show will be streamed live on NCAA.com.
MATCH #12
#3 MASSACHUSETTS def. #8 RICHMOND, 4-2
SINGLES
1. Danielle Hack (UM) def. Andrea Campodonico (UR) 6-0, 6-2
2. Carly Cohen (UR) def. Thamonpan Jonglertra (UM) 7-5, 6-4
3. Leonor Oliveira (UR) def. Ella Faessler (UM) 5-7, 6-3, 6-1
4. Mariana Campino (UM) def. Lara Bakhaya (UR) 6-4, 6-3
5. Renata Farima (UM) def. Elizabeth Novak (UR) 7-6, 6-3
6. Polina Akimova (UM) vs. Polina Shitikova (UR) 3-6, 6-5, DNF
Order of Finish: 1, 4, 2, 3, 5
DOUBLES
1. Danielle Hack/Thamonpan Jonglertra (UM) def. Claire Le Du/Andrea Campodonico (UR) 6-1
2. Ella Faessler/Amelia Tye (UM) vs. Polina Shitikova/Lara Bakhaya (UR) 6-6, DNF
3. Renata Farima/Mariana Campino (UM) def. Lainey OíNeil/Elizabeth Novak (UR) 7-6(2)
Order of Finish: 1, 3