Virginia Opens Dual Season at William & Mary Wednesday

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Jan. 14, 2014

CHARLOTTESVILLE – No. 13 Virginia opens its 2014 dual season at No. 40 William & Mary on Wednesday, Jan. 15. First serve at McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center in Williamsburg is set for 3:30 p.m.

Virginia owns a 20-19 advantage in the all-time series against William & Mary and returns five starters from last year’s team that won 19 matches and advanced to the NCAA round of 16 for the third consecutive season.Virginia has four players ranked in singles and one tandem ranked in doubles.

Sophomore Julia Elbaba is ranked No. 11 in singles, while sophomore Danielle Collins (St. Petersburg, Fla.) is ranked No. 28, freshman Rachel Pierson (Princeton, N.J.) is ranked No. 43 and sophomore Stephanie Nauta (Galveston, Texas) is ranked No. 85.

Elbaba posted an 8-1 fall mark, highlighted by her consolation title at the ITA All-American and quarterfinal appearance at the ITA National Indoor Singles Championship.

Collins went 11-2 and captured the ITA Atlantic Regional singles title and advanced to the ITA National Indoor Singles Championship.

Pierson led UVa with a 12-4 fall record and advanced to the round of 16 at the ITA National Indoor Singles Championship.

Elbaba and Pierson are ranked No. 8 in doubles. The duo posted an impressive 11-1 doubles mark in the fall, capturing the ITA Atlantic Regional doubles title and advancing to the quarterfinals of the ITA National Indoor Doubles Championship.

Seniors Caryssa Peretz (Cherry Hill, N.J.) and Li Xi (Kunming, China), sophomore Maci Epstein (Winter Park, Fla.) and freshman Marie Faure (Toulouse, France) are also big contributors to the team.

William & Mary is led by seniors Jeltje Loomans and Maria Belaya, who are ranked Nos. 54 and 65 in singles. Loomans and Belaya are also ranked No. 6 in doubles. Sophomore Leeza Nemchinov is ranked No. 89 in singles.

Virginia hosts the UVa Winter Invitational on Jan 18-20 at the Boyd Tinsley Courts at the Boar’s Head Sports Club.