Women's Tennis Begins Season at 2012 UVa Fall Classic

Story Links

Sept. 14, 2012

Photo Gallery | Complete Draws

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia women’s tennis team kicked off its fall season Friday as play began at the UVa Fall Classic at the Snyder Tennis Center. The Cavaliers had two singles players advance to flight semifinals and two doubles teams reach the quarterfinals on the opening day of the event.

Virginia had eight players competing in the two A flights of singles, with seven winning their opening match to reach the quarterfinals. Two of those players won their second match of the day to reach the semifinals. Senior Erin Vierra (Norwell, Mass.) downed Kasey Gardiner of Wake Forest 6-3, 6-3 in the first round before topping Diana Ivanova of Old Dominion 6-2, 6-7, 6-1 in the quarterfinals of the A-2 draw. First-year Julia Elbaba (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) won her first two collegiate matches to reach the semifinals of the A-1 draw. She defeated Nina Vulovich 6-1, 6-0 in the first round and Dominika Zaprazna of Marshall 6-3, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.

In the A flight of doubles, the Cavaliers had the top two seeds, who both advanced to the quarterfinals. The top-seeded team of Vierra and Hana Tomljanovic (Boca Raton. Fla.) downed Kara Kucin and Ellie Ball of Marshall 8-4 in the first round. Second-seeded Li Xi (Kunming, China) and Stephanie Nauta (Galveston, Texas) posted a 9-8(4) win over Yasmine Alkema and Andressa Garcia of Winthrop in their opener.

Play at the UVa Fall Classic runs through Sunday at the Snyder Tennis Center. Play begins each day at 9 a.m., and admission is free. Fans attending the tournament can park for free at the Culbreth Garage.