Virginia’s Season Ends in NCAA Round of 16

ANN ARBOR, Mich. –  The Virginia women’s tennis team (20-7) had its season come to an end in the Round of 16 of the 2023 NCAA Women’s Tennis Team Championship with a 4-2 loss against Michigan (25-3) on Saturday (May 13) at the Varsity Tennis Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Virginia hopped out to a 2-0 lead, but Michigan won four straight singles matches for the victory.

The Cavaliers took the doubles point after Julia Adams and Mélodie Collard won 6-1 on court two and Natasha Subhash and Annabelle Xu won 6-4 on two.

Hibah Shaikh made it 2-0 with a 6-2, 6-0 win against Andrea Cerdan on singles court four.

Michigan then picked up straight-set wins on courts one five and two to take a 3-2 lead. Gala Mesochoritou clinched the Wolverine victory with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win on court six.

The Cavaliers are the No. 12 seed in the tournament but are No. 11 in the latest ITA team rankings. Michigan is the No. 5 seed and the No. 5 team in the rankings. This was Virginia’s eighth time advancing to the Round of 16.

Adams and Collard will be competing in the NCAA Doubles Championship May 22-27 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla. Adams and Subhash will play in the singles championship at the same location.

FROM HEAD COACH SARA O’LEARY

“Congratulations to Michigan. I felt like we really put ourselves in a great position with how we approached the doubles and our first sets of singles. We played confidently, composed and with great energy. Credit to Michigan who really hung in there. They didn’t go away, and I felt like the moment down the stretch of that match got the best of us. This experience, on the road in the round of 16 is invaluable. It’s important for us to reflect, learn, adjust and grow. This is a match that hurts but one that I know will make us better. This is a team of great character, and if we learn from this match and this season and get back to work, I know great things will follow.

I’m grateful to Julia and all that she brought to this program. I’m incredibly proud of what she accomplished this year as well as her entire collegiate career. She has a lot to be proud of, and I’m excited for her opportunity to compete in the individual NCAA singles and doubles tournament.”

No. 5 Michigan 4, No. 11 Virginia 2
Singles competition

1. #36 Kari Miller (MICH) def. #61 Julia Adams (VA) 6-4, 6-4
2. #22 Jaedan Brown (MICH) def. #53 Natasha Subhash (VA) 6-4, 6-3
3. #51 Julia Fliegner (MICH) vs. #92 Annabelle Xu (VA) 4-6, 4-3, unfinished
4. Hibah Shaikh (VA) def. Andrea Cerdan (MICH) 6-2, 6-0
5. Lily Jones (MICH) def. Sara Ziodato (VA) 6-1, 6-4
6. Gala Mesochoritou (MICH) def. Melodie Collard (VA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. #10 Julia Adams/Melodie Collard (VA) def. Jaedan Brown/Andrea Cerdan (MICH) 6-1
2. Natasha Subhash/Annabelle Xu (VA) def. Lily Jones/Julia Fliegner (MICH) 6-4
3. Merri Kelly/Kari Miller (MICH) vs. Sara Ziodato/Hibah Shaikh (VA) 4-4, unfinished

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (4,1,5,2,6)
NCAA Round of 16 – Ann Arbor Super Regional