No. 9 Virginia Wins Smithfield Commonwealth Clash Match 5-2 Against the Hokies

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –  The No. 9 Virginia women’s tennis team (16-4, 9-2 ACC) picked up a 5-2 victory against Virginia Tech (10-11, 1-10 ACC) on Thursday (April 6) in a Smithfield Commonwealth Clash match at the Virginia Tennis Facility at the Boar’s Head Resort.

Hibah Shaikh clinched the victory for the Cavaliers with a win on court three.

The Cavaliers clinched the doubles point with 6-0 victories by both Mélodie Collard and Julia Adams on court one and Elaine Chervinsky and Natasha Subhash on court two. Annabelle Xu made her return to the court, seeing her first action since Feb. 12, partnering with Sara Ziodato at three doubles and picking up a 6-2 victory.

Adams, a grad student who was honored before the match for Senior Day, opened singles play with a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Tamara Barad Itzhaki to give UVA a 2-0 lead. Ziodato made it 3-0 with a 6-2, 6-2 win on five before the Hokies collected a point on court six. Shaikh closed out her 6-3, 6-1 win against Dariya Radulova to give UVA a 4-1 lead. ACC Freshman of the Week Ozlem Uslu won a tiebreaker to take the second set and match on court one to make it 4-2.

Chervinsky fell behind 5-0 in her first set against Semra Aksu on court four and dropped the opener 6-2 before rallying to take the final two sets 6-1 and 6-4 to close out the match.

“I loved the joy and belief Julia played with today on Senior Day,” said head coach Sara O’Leary. “She’s meant a lot to this program and I know everyone played today in honor of her. We are thrilled we could add a point in UVA’s favor to the Commonwealth Clash and will start preparing for our last weekend of ACC regular season play next weekend.”

This is Virginia’s 10th victory in its last 11 matches.

SMITHFIELD COMMONWEALTH CLASH

• The rivalry between Virginia Athletics and Virginia Tech Athletics has a long and storied history dating back more than 125 years within the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Cavaliers and Hokies first faced off on the gridiron in Charlottesville in 1895. First coined the Commonwealth Clash during the 2014-2015 season, the rivalry has expanded and intensified across the 22 sports the two institutions face off in head-to-head competition
• The Cavaliers picked up one point with the victory today and leads the Clash 8-7

ON THE HORIZON

• The Cavaliers have a bye this weekend before closing out the regular season next weekend, playing at No. 7 NC State on Friday, April 14 and at No. 24 Wake Forest on Sunday, April 16

#9 Virginia 5, Virginia Tech Women’s Tennis 2
Singles competition

1. #67 Ozlem Uslu (VT) def. #60 Natasha Subhash (VA) 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)
2. #57 Julia Adams (VA) def. Tamara Barad Itzhaki (VT) 6-2, 6-2
3. Hibah Shaikh (VA) def. Dariya Radulova (VT) 6-3, 6-1
4. Elaine Chervinsky (VA) def. Semra Aksu (VT) 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
5. Sara Ziodato (VA) def. Erika Cheng (VT) 6-2, 6-2
6. Katie Andreini (VT) def. Melodie Collard (VA) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. #18 Melodie Collard/Julia Adams (VA) def. Katie Andreini/Dariya Radulova (VT) 6-0
2. #17 Elaine Chervinsky/Natasha Subhash (VA) def. Erika Cheng/Ozlem Uslu (VT) 6-0
3. Sara Ziodato/Annabelle Xu (VA) def. Charlotte Cartledge/Sabina Richtrova (VT) 6-2

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,5,6,3,1,4)
T-2:23 A-101