CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –  The No. 11 Virginia women’s tennis team (5-0) picked up a 4-1 victory against Texas Tech (1-1) on Friday (Jan. 26) in the opener of ITA Kickoff Weekend matches being contested at the Boar’s Head Sports Club.

The Red Raiders took the doubles point, but the Cavaliers won four singles matches to advance to Saturday’s ITA Kickoff Weekend final. Junior Elaine Chervinsky won the clinching point for UVA.

Texas Tech won on double courts one and three to take the early 1-0 lead in the match.

Junior Mélodie Collard tied the match at one with a 6-2, 6-4 win on court six. Senior Sara Ziodato and grad student Natasha Subhash tallied back-to-back straight-set wins on courts four and three to put the Cavaliers ahead 3-1. Chervinsky closed out a 7-5, 6-4 win on court five to clinch the victory.

Virginia will face either Georgia Tech on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 3:30 p.m. in the championship match. The winner of the final will earn a spot in the 16-team field at the 37th Annual ITA National Team Indoor Championships, being held Feb. 9-12 in Seattle, Wash.

#11 Virginia 4, Texas Tech 1
Singles competition

  1. Annabelle Xu (VA) vs. Cristina Tiglea (TTU) 2-6, 6-2, 1-0, unfinished
  2. Hibah Shaikh (VA) vs. Mariya Polishchuk (TTU) 0-6, 6-1, 1-4, unfinished
  3. Natasha Subhash (VA) def. Avelina Sayfetdinova (TTU) 6-4, 6-4
  4. Sara Ziodato (VA) def. Metka Komac (TTU) 7-5, 6-4
  5. Elaine Chervinsky (VA) def. Andreea Lila (TTU) 7-5, 6-4
  6. Melodie Collard (VA) def. Jermine Sherif (TTU) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles competition

  1. #5 Avelina Sayfetdinova/Metka Komac (TTU) def. Melodie Collard/Elaine Chervinsky (VA) 6-4
  2. #48 Natasha Subhash/Hibah Shaikh (VA) vs. Mariya Polishchuk/Cristina Tiglea (TTU) 3-4, unfinished
  3. Jermine Sherif/Andreea Lila (TTU) def. Annabelle Xu/Sara Ziodato (VA) 6-1

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (6,4,3,5)
T-2:24 A-115