Cavs short-handed with suspensions of five team members
The No. 7 Virginia women’s tennis team suffered its first loss of the season on Friday (Jan. 29), falling 4-3 to No. 28 South Carolina at the Boar’s Head Sports Club.
“I’m very proud of the team out there today and the effort they gave,” said Virginia head coach Mark Guilbeau. “The kids played a great match, as did South Carolina. I’m extremely proud that the level was strong enough to have a chance to win the match, but full respect and credit to South Carolina for not letting us get it done.”
With Virginia forfeiting the doubles match on court three, South Carolina grabbed the doubles point after the Gamecock duo of Hadley Berg and Paige Cline picked up a 6-2 win over Julia Elbaba (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) and Stephanie Nauta (Galveston, Texas) on court one. The second doubles match, featuring Danielle Collins (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and Erica Susi (Vero Beach, Fla.), was tied 3-3 with South Carolina’s Ingrid Martins and Caroline Dailey when doubles was decided.
Virginia, which also forfeited No. 6 singles to trail 2-0, roared back with Nauta and Collins making quick work of their singles opponents on courts three and one, respectively. Nauta, who is ranked No. 30, picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win over Brigit Folland, while No. 4 Collins defeated No. 43 Paige Cline 6-0, 6-1 to tie the match at two.
South Carolina moved back in front with a win on court five as Hadley Berg picked up a 6-1, 6-3 win over Taylor Wingo (Newport News, Va.).
The Gamecocks then clinched the match with a win on court four as No. 54 Ingrid Gamarra Martins defeated the freshman Susi 4-6, 6-0, 6-0. Eighth-ranked Elbaba then closed the scoring on court two, rallying for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Caroline Dailey.
Virginia was playing without five student-athletes who were suspended from competition indefinitely for violations of team rules.
Virginia returns to action next week when the Cavaliers travel to the University of Wisconsin for the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, beginning on Friday (Feb. 5).
No. 28 South Carolina 4, No. 7 Virginia 3
Singles
1. No. 4 Danielle Collins (UVA) def. No. 43 Paige Cline (UVA), 6-0, 6-1
- No. 8 Julia Elbaba (UVA) def. Caroline Dailey (UVA), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
- No. 30 Stephanie Nauta (UVA) def. Brigit Folland (USC), 6-1, 6-1
- No. 54 Ingrid Gamarra Martins (USC) def. Erica Susi (UVA), 3-6, 6-0, 6-0
- Hadley Berg (USC) def. Taylor Wingo (UVA), 6-1, 6-3
- USC by forfeit
Doubles
- Berg/Cline (USC) def. Elbaba/Nauta (UVA), 6-2
- Collins/Susi (UVA) vs. Dailey/Martins (USC), 3-3 (suspended)
- USC by forfeit
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