Elbaba Advances to ITA All-American Final

Story Links

Oct. 6, 2012

LOS ANGELES – Virginia women’s tennis first-year Julia Elbaba (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) reached the singles final of the ITA All-American Championships with a 6-4, 7-6(4) semifinal win over No. 4 seed Zoe Scandalis of USC on Saturday at the Riviera Country Club. She is the first Cavalier to reach the final of a national tournament.

Elbaba has won 10 matches at the event to reach the final, winning three in pre-qualifying, three in qualifying and now four in the main draw. She has lost just two sets in those 10 wins, three of which have come against 2012 All-Americans.

“It is great to be able to reach the final,” Elbaba told RadioTennis.com. “I feel like we both had to adjust to these courts, because we were both on the lower courts earlier in the tournament, and it took her a little bit longer to adjust than I did. I had to battle in the second set and really had to find a way to win the points; it didn’t come easily. I am new to this college game and the crowd was behind Zoe, because USC is so close. This was a great experience and I am looking forward to tomorrow.”

Elbaba will play No. 3 seed Lauren Embree of Florida in Sunday’s final.