Women’s tennis: No. 18 Virginia wins two matches Sunday

The No. 18 Virginia women’s tennis team (7-3, 3-0 ACC) won a pair of dual matches on Sunday (Feb. 28), downing Louisville, 6-1, in an ACC contest followed by a 7-0 non-conference victory over Norfolk State (1-5) at the Snyder Tennis Center in Charlottesville, Va.

The Cavaliers took advantage of the sunny skies and 60-degree temperatures to play outdoors for the first time this season.

“First off, I am very happy for the weather and the fans that came out and really hope we can continue to have days like this,” said Virginia head coach Mark Guilbeau. “It was a great step for us to be able to get outdoors and play two solid matches. The girls focused really well through the entire day, which is not an easy task. I am really proud of our girls. We had a good process here and a good bit of progress. I am excited for what’s ahead.”

In the 11 a.m. match against Louisville (6-6, 0-4 ACC), Virginia took a quick lead with both the doubles teams of senior Danielle Collins (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and freshman Meghan Kelley (Falmouth, Maine) at No. 1 and seniors Julia Elbaba (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) and Skylar Morton (Bethesda, Md.) at No. 2 earning 6-1 victories to secure the doubles point.

The Cavaliers swept the first set of all of the singles matches with Elbaba cruising to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Ariana Rodriguez at No. 2 singles and Collins quickly wrapping up a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 2 over Sena Suswam. Senior Stephanie Nauta (Galveston, Texas) secured the Cavalier victory with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Ola Mally at No. 4.

Morton, after winning her first set 6-2 over Elle Stokes at No. 3, avoided a third-set with a 7-5 victory in the second. Junior Victoria Olivarez (Virginia Beach, Va.) won her first set, 6-1, over Abbie Pahz at No. 5, but fell 7-5 in the second and lost the tiebreaker 10-8 to give the Cardinals their lone point. Kelley battled on No. 6, closing out the match with a 6-3, 7-6 victory over Olivia Boesing.

In the nightcap, the Cavaliers swept Norfolk State, 7-0, in 1 hour, 34 minutes.

In doubles, Elbaba and Morton won 6-1 at No. 1 followed by a 6-1 victory for Collins and Kelley. Nauta and Mercer closed out their match at No. 3 a minute later with a 6-2 final.

In singles, Morton, playing at No. 1, logged a 6-0, 6-0 win over Dajana Cvetkovic. Olivarez, playing at No. 3, followed shortly thereafter with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Andrea Macchiavello. Kelley clinched the match with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Liza Gordeeva on court four. Freshman Erica Susi (Vero Beach, Fla.), seeing her first action of the day, logged a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Ana Popovic on No. 5. Senior Taylor Wingo (Newport News, Va.) won 6-2, 6-0 over Mafalda Lhorca at court six. Nauta rounded out the singles lineup with a 6-2, 6-0 victory at No. 2.

“I appreciate Norfolk State coming and playing us in the second match today and wish both teams the best of luck the rest of the season,” Guilbeau said.

Virginia continues its current homestand next weekend with a pair of ACC matches, hosting No. 6 North Carolina on Friday, March 4 at 3 p.m. followed by a Sunday, March 6 noon match against No. 34 Clemson. Both matches are slated to be played outdoors at the Snyder Tennis Center.

 

#18 Virginia 6, Louisville 1

Singles competition

1. #3 Danielle Collins (VA) def. Sena Suswam (LOU) 6-0, 6-1
2. #18 Julia Elbaba (VA) def. Ariana Rodriguez (LOU) 6-1, 6-1
3. #45 Skylar Morton (VA) def. Elle Stokes (LOU) 6-2, 7-5
4. #69 Stephanie Nauta (VA) def. Ola Mally (LOU) 6-2, 6-0
5. Abbie Pahz (LOU) def. Victoria Olivarez (VA) 1-6, 7-5, 1-0
6. Meghan Kelley (VA) def. Olivia Boesing (LOU) 6-3, 7-6

Doubles competition

1. #23 Danielle Collins/Meghan Kelley (VA) def. Ariana Rodriguez/Abbie Pahz (LOU) 6-1
2. Julia Elbaba/Skylar Morton (VA) def. Elle Stokes/Jessie Lynn Paul (LOU) 6-1
3. Stephanie Nauta/Cassie Mercer (VA) vs. Sena Suswam/Olivia Boesing (LOU) 4-2, unfinished

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (1,2,4,3,5,6)

T-2:23 A-109

 

#18 Virginia 7, Norfolk State 0

Singles competition

1. #45 Skylar Morton (VA) def. CVJETKOVIC,Dajana (NSUW) 6-0, 6-0
2. #69 Stephanie Nauta (VA) def. GOMAR,Marta (NSUW) 6-2, 6-0
3. Victoria Olivarez (VA) def. MACCHIAVELLO,Andrea (NSUW) 6-0, 6-1
4. Meghan Kelley (VA) def. GORDEEVA,Liza (NSUW) 6-0, 6-2
5. Erica Susi (VA) def. POPOVIC,Ana (NSUW) 6-0, 6-1
6. Taylor Wingo (VA) def. LHORCA,Mafalda (NSUW) 6-2, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. #23 Danielle Collins/Meghan Kelley (VA) def. CVJETKOVIC,Dajana/POPOVIC,Ana (NSUW) 6-1
2. Julia Elbaba/Skylar Morton (VA) def. MACCHIAVELLO,Andrea/LHORCA,Mafalda (NSUW) 6-0
3. Stephanie Nauta/Cassie Mercer (VA) def. GORDEEVA,Liza/GOMAR,Marta (NSUW) 6-2

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,3,4,5,2,6)

T-1:34 A-87