No. 14 Virginia Sweeps Virginia Tech in First Match at New Stadium

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –  The No. 14 Virginia women’s tennis team (9-2, 5-1 ACC) picked up a 7-0 victory against Virginia Tech (3-9, 0-6 ACC) on Saturday (March 13) at the Virginia Tennis Facility at the Boar’s Head Resort.

The Cavaliers, playing on their new courts for the first time, took the doubles point and won five of six singles matches in straight sets.

The Cavaliers set the tone in doubles, picking up dominant 6-2 and 6-1 victories on the top-two courts to secure the point.

In singles, the players on the top four courts sailed through their matches, completing their victories before court five had finished its first set. Freshman Emma Navarro (Charleston, S.C.) won 6-1, 6-3 against Tamat Barad Itzhaki. Sophomore Natasha Subhash (Fairfax, Va.) won 6-1, 6-2 against Nika Kozar. Senior Rosie Johanson (Vancouver, Canada) topped her opponent 6-1, 6-0. Sofia Munera (Periera, Colombia) had a tight first set, 6-4, but barreled through a 6-1 second set.

Junior Amber O’Dell (New Milford, N.J.) added to the 5-0 lead by finishing up a 6-4, 6-2 victory on court six.

On the remaining court, freshman Hibah Shaikh (Teaneck, N.J.) and Katie Andreini battled to 6-6 in the first set, forcing a tiebreaker that went 9-7 in the Hokies’ favor. Shaikh rebounded with a 6-0 victory in the second set to force a third-set super-tiebreaker to decide the match, which Shaikh won 10-5 to complete the sweep.

FROM HEAD COACH SARA O’LEARY

“It was such a great day being out at the new facility. I feel like the girls played with so much pride, being out here on the new courts we’ve been looking forward to for so long. We have so many people to thank, the donors who are involved, the administration, the Boar’s Head… We’re just extremely grateful and had a wonderful day being out here for our first match.”

MATCH NOTES

• Emma Navarro improved to 10-0 at No. 1 singles to begin her collegiate career
• Rosie Johanson and Sofia Munera extended their singles match winning streaks to five

ON THE HORIZON

• Virginia hosts Clemson and No. 13 Georgia Tech next Saturday and Sunday, March 20-21 before closing out its month-long homestand on Saturday, March 27 against No. 6 Duke

#14 Virginia 7, Virginia Tech Women’s Tennis 0

Singles competition

1. #80 Emma Navarro (VA) def. Tamara Barad Itzhaki (VT) 6-1, 6-3
2. #11 Natasha Subhash (VA) def. Nika Kozar (VT) 6-1, 6-2
3. #47 Rosie Johanson (VA) def. Nina Sorkin (VT) 6-1, 6-0
4. #91 Sofia Munera (VA) def. Sabina Richtrova (VT) 6-4, 6-1
5. Hibah Shaikh (VA) def. Katie Andreini (VT) 6-7 (7), 6-0, 1-0 (5)
6. #104 Amber O’Dell (VA) def. Shene Disbergen (VT) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. Emma Navarro/Rosie Johanson (VA) def. Elizabet Danailova/Nika Kozar (VT) 6-2
2. Natasha Subhash/Sofia Munera (VA) def. Annie Clark/Nina Sorkin (VT) 6-1
3. Vivian Glozman/Amber O’Dell (VA) vs. Katie Andreini/Erika Cheng (VT) 3-3, unfinished

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (3,1,2,4,6)

T-2:27 A-42