Women’s Tennis: Cavaliers blank LIU, 4-0, to begin NCAA team competition

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia women’s tennis team opened play at the 2023 NCAA Women’s Tennis Team Championship Friday with a 4-0 victory against LIU at the Virginia Tennis Facility at the Boar’s Head Resort.

The Cavaliers (19-6), the No. 12 seed in the championship, advance to face Princeton on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the same locations. Princeton advanced with a 4-0 victory against Fordham in the opening match of the Charlottesville Regional.

The Cavaliers got off to a strong start Friday against the Sharks (12-11) in doubles, with Julia Adams and Mélodie Collard winning 6-1 on the top court. Natasha Subhash and Annabelle Xu clinched the point with a 6-2 win on court two.

Collard put the Cavaliers ahead 2-0 with a 6-0, 6-0 win against Elinor Storkaas on court five, finishing her match before court one had completed its first set. Xu followed with a 6-1, 6-2 win against Saki Oyama on court three moments before Hibah Shaikh finished a 6-0, 6-0 win on court four to clinch the victory.

Looking ahead to Saturday, Princeton (17-6) is ranked No. 56 in the latest ITA rankings. Virginia and Princeton faced one another last year in the Round of 32 in Charlottesville, with the Cavaliers picking up a 4-0 victory. The Tigers also played in Charlottesville in the fall, competing as individuals at the Wahoowa Invitational.

The Tigers have won their last nine matches. Daria Frayman is ranked No. 10 in singles. The 2023 Ivy League Player of the Year has been ranked as high as No. 1 in singles. Frayman and Grace Joyce are No. 26 in doubles and will be competing at the NCAA Doubles Championship.

Tickets for the NCAA Championship matches are $5 for general admission and $3 for students with a valid ID per day (ages 2 and up are required to have a ticket). Tickets will be available for purchase online, over the phone, or at the Bryant Hall ticket office and can be picked up at the courts.

Hear from Hibah Shaikh 👇after winning the clinching point in today’s 4-0 victory against LIU in the #NCAAWTEN First Round #GoHoos⚔️ pic.twitter.com/hqqhCzCOxb

— Virginia Women’s Tennis (@UVAWomensTennis) May 5, 2023

NO. 11 VIRGINIA 4, LIU 0

Singles
1. #61 Julia Adams (VA) vs. V Erechtchenko (LIU) 5-7, unfinished
2. #53 Natasha Subhash (VA) vs. Leo Boisseau (LIU) 6-4, 4-0, unfinished
3. #92 Annabelle Xu (VA) def. Saki Oyama (LIU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Hibah Shaikh (VA) def. Marion Deloziere (LIU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Mélodie Collard (VA) def. Elinor Storkaas (LIU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Nicole Kiefer (VA) vs. Kate Jorjoliani (LIU) 2-6, 3-2, unfinished

Doubles
1. Julia Adams/Mélodie Collard (VA) def. V Erechtchenko/Elinor Storkaas (LIU) 6-1
2. Natasha Subhash/Annabelle Xu (VA) def. Leo Boisseau/Marion Deloziere (LIU) 6-2
3. Sara Ziodato/Hibah Shaikh (VA) vs. Saki Oyama/Bianca Compuesto (LIU) 5-3, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,3,4)