Virginia Closes Regular-Season With A 5-2 Win
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April 17, 2016
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 13 Virginia women’s tennis team (14-9, 9-5 ACC) closed out the regular-season with a 5-2 victory over No. 51 Notre Dame (11-12, 5-9 ACC) on Sunday (April 17) at the Snyder Tennis Center in Charlottesville, Va.
The Cavaliers opened the match by winning the doubles point and went up 3-0 after fourth-years Danielle Collins (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and Julia Elbaba (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) won their matches at No. 1 and No. 2 with quick, straight-set victories, but it was a first-year, Meghan Kelley (Falmouth, Me.), who picked up the match-clinching win on Senior Day when she closed out a 6-2, 7-5 victory at No. 4.
The win is the third-straight victory for the Cavaliers to close out the regular-season.
“This was a great match against a great team,” said Virginia head coach Mark Guilbeau. “We know the margins are slim and at this time of year and you are also dealing with a lot more than just tennis. I was happy for the girls, getting the win on Senior Day, which is always a special day, and it’s a great positive to go out with a home win. I believe we have momentum heading into the postseason. This is the best we have been all year with our demeanor, attitude, energy and having a positive mindset. That’s part of the reason you have seen these three wins in a row with close matches going our way. All of those things have a big impact.”
Senior Stephanie Nauta (Galveston, Texas) and sophomore Cassie Mercer (Huntington, W.V.) opened the match with a 6-3 victory at No. 2 doubles. Collins and Kelley, the No. 22 doubles team in the nation, logged a 6-3 win over No. 32 Quinn Gleason and Monica Robinson at No. 1 to win the doubles point.
In singles, Elbaba, currently ranked No. 15, defeated No. 81 Robinson 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 followed by second-ranked Collins downing No. 50 Gleason 6-1, 6-3. After Notre Dame picked up wins at No. 5 and No. 3, Kelley clinched the match with her victory at No. 4. Mercer finished off the day with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Jane Fennelly.
The Cavaliers will next head to the Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C. to compete in the 2016 ACC Women’s Tennis Championship, being held April 20-24. The complete bracket and seeding will be announced later.
#13 Virginia 5, #51 Notre Dame 2
Singles competition
1. #2 Danielle Collins (VA) def. #50 Quinn Gleason (ND) 6-1, 6-3
2. #15 Julia Elbaba (VA) def. #81 Monica Robinson (ND) 6-1, 6-2
3. #108 Allison Miller (ND) def. #78 Stephanie Nauta (VA) 7-5, 6-4
4. Meghan Kelley (VA) def. Mary Closs (ND) 6-2, 7-5
5. Brooke Broda (ND) def. Erica Susi (VA) 6-2, 6-4
6. Cassie Mercer (VA) def. Jane Fennelly (ND) 7-5, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #22 Danielle Collins/Meghan Kelley (VA) def. #32 Quinn Gleason/Monica Robinson (ND) 6-3
2. Stephanie Nauta/Cassie Mercer (VA) def. Mary Closs/Julie Vrabel (ND) 6-3
3. Julia Elbaba/Erica Susi (VA) vs. Brooke Broda/Allison Miller (ND) 4-5, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (2,1,5,3,4,6)
T-2:34 A-134