Women's Tennis Reaches Blue/Gray Tennis Classic Final

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The No. 12 Virginia women’s tennis team reached the final of the 2012 Blue/Gray Tennis Classic with a pair of wins on Saturday at Lagoon Park. After Friday’s play was rained out, the Cavaliers’ (8-2) downed Auburn 5-0 in the quarterfinals and No. 33 Arizona 4-0 in the semifinals on the second day of the tournament.

In both matches, singles was played first and doubles was not played as the Cavaliers clinched victory with four singles wins. Against Auburn, Virginia got straight set wins from Emily Fraser (Rye, N.Y.), Li Xi (Kunming, China), Hana Tomljanovic (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Erin Vierra (Norwell, Mass.), along with a three-set win by Molly O’Koniewski (Hilton Head Island, S.C.). In the semifinal, the Cavaliers got straight set wins from Lindsey Hardenbergh (Fairfax Station, Va.), Xi, Vierra and Caryssa Peretz (Cherry Hill, N.J.) to down the Wildcats.

“A very strong performance from the team today – all day,” said head coach Mark Guilbeau. “The challenge of playing two tough matches back-to-back was accepted and handled very well. Each player had a role in the wins and the team showed great spirit throughout. Both Auburn and Arizona played well and gave a great effort also. It was good to see the team working through the conditions as well as the specifics from each individual opponent. The atmosphere at the Blue/Gray is great. We are looking forward to a very exciting, well-played match vs. Alabama tomorrow. I am very proud of the entire team today and excited for our opportunity ahead.”

Virginia, the tournament’s top seed, will play second-seeded Alabama, ranked No. 20 nationally, in the final. The championship match is slated for 11 a.m. on Sunday.

#12 VIRGINIA 5, AUBURN 0

Doubles: not played

Singles:
1. #21 Emily Fraser (UVa) def. Emily Flickinger (AU) 6-3, 6-4
2. #41 Lindsey Hardenbergh (UVa) led Jen Pfeifer (AU) 6-1, 3-6 5-1 DNF
3. #94 Li Xi (UVa) def. Paulina Schippers (AU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Hana Tomljanovic (UVa) def. Plamena Kurteva (AU) 6-3, 6-3
5. #122 Erin Vierra (UVa) def. Jackie Kasler (AU) 6-4, 7-5
6. Molly O’Koniewski (UVa) def. Taylor Schreimann (AU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-0

#12 VIRGINIA 4, #33 ARIZONA 0

Doubles: not played

Singles:
1. #21 Emily Fraser (UVa) vs. Lacey Smyth (UA) 6-4, 3-6 DNF
2. #41 Lindsey Hardenbergh (UVa) def. Sarah Landsman (UA) 6-2, 6-2
3. #94 Li Xi (UVa) def. #64 Natasha Marks (UA) 6-3, 6-1
4. Hana Tomljanovic (UVa) vs. Kim Stubbe (UA) 4-6, 6-3 DNF
5. #122 Erin Vierra (UVa) def. Susan McRann (UA) 6-0, 6-4
6. Caryssa Peretz (UVa) def. Hailey Johnson (UA) 6-2, 7-6