Women's Tennis Opens Play at Kentucky Invitational

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Virginia women’s tennis team returned to action on Friday as play began at the Kentucky Invitational. The Cavaliers had a strong first day at the event, going undefeated in the top singles flight and advancing a team to the semifinals of the top doubles flight.

In Flight A of singles, two players advanced to the quarterfinals. Lindsey Hardenbergh (Fairfax Station, Va.) cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Chelsea Preeg of Vanderbilt in her first round match. Erin Vierra (Norwell, Mass.) scored a 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 win over Illinois’ Breanne Smutko in her opener.

In Flight B, Hana Tomljanovic (Boca Raton, Fla.) will begin play on Saturday after receiving a first round bye. Neela Vaez (Perrysburg, Ohio) fell in the first round of Flight B to Paula Jaime of East Tennessee State.

Riley Blanks (Santa Barbara, Calif.) suffered a 6-3, 6-1 loss to Illinois’ Annie McCarthy in the first round of Flight C. Maria Fuccillo (Rockville, Md.) will open play in Flight D on Saturday after a first round bye.

In doubles Flight A, Hardenbergh and Vierra won a pair of matches to reach the semifinals. They topped Haviland and Hubbs of Ohio State 8-4 in the first round before defeating Beckmann and Muller-Wehlau of Armstrong Atlantic 8-3 in the quarterfinals. Tomljanovic and Vaez won their opener in Flight A, defeating Harris and VanAerde of Louisville 8-1, but fell in the quarterfinals to Vanderbilt’s Preeg and Wu 8-1. In Flight B, Blanks and Fuccillo had a first round bye before falling in the quarterfinals to Allin and McCarthy of Illinois 9-8.

The tournament runs through Sunday.