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CHARLOTTESVILLE The No. 18 Virginia women’s tennis team opened its ACC season with a 3-0 record for the first time in school history as they shut out No. 45 Virginia Tech 7-0 Sunday at the Boyd Tinsley Courts at the Boar’s Head Sports Club. The Cavaliers improve to 10-2 overall this season.
In doubles play, the Cavaliers swept all three matches for the first point of the match. At No. 3 doubles, Maggie Yahner (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Claire Bartlett (Chattanooga, Tenn.) topped Yasmin Hamza and Abbey Walker 8-4. Jennifer Stevens (Miami, Fla.) and Emily Fraser (Rye, N.Y.) clinched the opening point with their 9-7 win at No. 1 over Jessica Brouwer and Holly Johnson. Neela Vaez (Perrysburg, Ohio) and Amanda Rales (Bethesda, Md.) completed the sweep with a tiebreaker win at No. 2 over Martha Blakely and Inga Beermann.
In singles, the Cavaliers won two matches quickly to make the score 3-0. Rales topped Hamza 6-0, 6-2 at No. 4 and Bartlett defeated Johnson 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 5 position. Fraser clinched the victory with her 6-3, 6-4 win over Beermann at No. 1. Stevens added a 7-6, 6-4 win over Brouwer at No. 2 singles and Vaez downed Courtney Rauscher in three sets at No. 6. Lindsey Hardenbergh (Fairfax Station, Va.) completed the sweep with her 4-6, 7-6, 10-3 win over Blakely at No. 3 singles.
“It is a great step for our program to get this win over Virginia Tech, especially where, to their credit, they came in with great intensity and had a great start to the match,” said Virginia head coach Mark Guilbeau. “Our team responded well and have continued a very steady process of improving and competing. We are happy to be where we are at this point of the season. We are excited and determined to make the most of this upcoming stretch as we play some of the best teams in the country. I am proud of the team and pleased with their effort.”
Virginia will return to action on Saturday as they visit No. 7 Georgia Tech.
No. 18 Virginia 7, No. 45 Virginia Tech 0
Doubles
1. #51 Stevens/Fraser (UVa) def. #63 Brouwer/Johnson (VT) 9-7
2. #59 Vaez/Rales (UVa) def. Blakely/Beermann (VT) 9-8(3)
3. Bartlett/Yahner (UVa) def. Hamza/Walker (VT) 8-4
Singles
1. #83 Emily Fraser (UVa) def. Inga Beermann (VT) 6-3, 6-4
2. #72 Jennifer Stevens (UVa) def. Jessica Brouwer (VT) 7-6(5), 6-4
3. Lindsey Hardenbergh (UVa) def. Martha Blakely (VT) 4-6, 7-6(2), 10-3
4. Amanda Rales (UVa) def. Yasmin Hamza (VT) 6-0, 6-2
5. Claire Bartlett (UVa) def. Holly Johnson (VT) 6-0, 6-1
6. Neela Vaez (UVa) def. Courtney Rauscher (VT) 6-4, 0-6, 6-2
Order of Finish:
Doubles: 3,2,1
Singles: 4,5,1,2,6,3