Elbaba and Kwiatkowski Help Team USA to Finals at Master'U BNP Paribas

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Dec. 6, 2014

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia tennis standouts Julia Elbaba (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) and Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (Charlotte, N.C.) have helped Team USA to the final match at the prestigious Master’U BNP Paribas in Aix-en-Provence, France.

Team USA defeated Ireland 6-1 in the quarterfinals and Russia 4-3 in the semifinals, and will play France in tomorrow’s final. France advanced to the final with a 4-1 win over Belgium.

Elbaba and Kwiatkowski each posted singles wins in the win over Ireland. Elbaba also teamed with UCLA’s Chanelle Van Nguyen to gain a doubles victory.

In Team USA’s win over Russia in the semifinals, Elbaba and Kwiatkowski each posted singles wins. Kwiatkowski added a doubles win with Georgia’s Nathan Pasha. Team USA clinched the match at 4-2 prior to the mixed doubles loss.

The eight-team competition features six student-athletes and two head coaches from International Tennis Association (ITA) member schools, who will represent the United States against teams from Belgium, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland and Russia.

Cal’s Amanda Augustus and Boise State’s Greg Patton are coaching Team USA. Virginia head coach Mark Guilbeau coached Team USA at the event with Patton in 2010 and 2011. The format for the tournament is best-of-seven matches that feature two men’s singles matches, two women’s singles matches, one men’s doubles match, one women’s doubles match and one mixed doubles match.

Fans can follow Elbaba and Kwiatkowski online at the event at Master-U-BNPParibas.com.