Hardenbergh Falls in NCAA Singles Championship

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ATHENS, Ga. – The Virginia women’s tennis season came to a close on Wednesday as sophomore Lindsey Hardenbergh (Fairfax Station, Va.) fell in the first round of the NCAA Singles Championship at the Dan Magill Tennis Center in Athens, Ga. Hardenbergh fell 6-4, 6-2 to Fani Chifchieva of Auburn.

Making her NCAA Singles Championship debut, Hardenbergh faced Chifchieva, a 2009 All-American. Hardenbergh fell behind 3-2 in the first set when she had her serve broken. She drew even at 4-4 by breaking Chifchieva’s serve, but the Auburn player broke back and served out the first set, 6-4. In the second set, Chifchieva took a 4-0 lead before the players held serve in the final four games as the Tiger completed the 6-4, 6-2 win.

“This tournament, especially here in Athens, is the epitome of college tennis,” said Hardenbergh. “With both the men’s and women’s tournaments going on together, there is just so much high level tennis. It was great to have the opportunity to play in this event and I am going to keep working hard so that I can come back and go farther next year.”

Hardenbergh was Virginia’s seventh NCAA Singles Championship participant. She joined Irene Usisken (1987), Jen Callen (1993 and 1994), Alison Cohen (1995 and 1996) and Jennifer Tuchband (2003).

Hardenbergh, the 2010 ITA Atlantic Region Player to Watch, is one of seven players on the Cavalier roster with eligibility remaining for the next two seasons.