CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – For the first time in program history, the Virginia women's tennis team has earned the title of outright ACC regular-season champion. The No. 8 Cavaliers (19-4, 12-0 ACC) completed their undefeated season of conference play with a 4-2 victory over No. 14 NC State (19-7, 10-2) on Sunday afternoon (April 12) at the Virginia Tennis Facility at the Boar's Head Resort.
Virginia has finished as ACC regular-season co-champions twice before (2014 and 2024), but never until Sunday had the Hoos claimed the title outright. This season also marks the first time the Cavaliers have recorded a perfect 12-0 record in conference play.
Sunday's action began with a tightly contested doubles slate. No. 8 Melodie Collard and Vivian Yang toppled No. 2 Victoria Osuigwe and Gabriella Broadfoot 6-4 on the top court, but the Wolfpack promptly responded with a 7-5 win on three. With the battle for the point down to court two, No. 28 Annabelle Xu and Martina Genis Salas fought back to take the competition to a tiebreaker, which they won 7-4 to seal their 7-6 (4) victory over No. 70 Jasmine Conway and Anna Zyryanova and put the Cavaliers ahead 1-0.
NC State kicked off singles play with an overpowering win on four, but the 1-1 tie didn't last for long as fifth-year Melodie Collard took court six 6-3, 6-4 to put the Hoos back on top. No. 110 Martina Genis Salas finished next, recovering from a dropped first set to record an emphatic 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory on five and bring the Cavaliers within a point of clinching.
Another point for the Wolfpack, this time on court three, brought the score to 3-2 and made things interesting. Only courts one and two remained, with No. 81 Vivian Yang up a set on No. 39 Mia Slama on one. No. 23 Annabelle Xu had just dropped the second set to No. 53 Anna Zyryanova on two and was consistently trading breaks through the third. Yang's first-set victory came in a tiebreaker, a 9-7 thriller, and the two continued to trade blows throughout the second set. In dramatic fashion, Yang's second set came down to a tiebreaker as well. She once again prevailed, this time winning 7-4 to complete the 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4) victory and clinch the match for Virginia.
FROM HEAD COACH SARA O'LEARY
"A credit to NC State. They played really well and competed really well. They didn't make it easy on us.
"That doubles point came down to the last few points. I am just really proud of Annabelle, being a senior. I think she played with a lot of courage there at the end of that doubles point, and just wasn't going to be denied. When we came out in singles, and again, I felt like NC State competed really well and made it really, really difficult for us, but this team, just all year long, has just been staying right there in the moment. And they've been trusting themselves. They've been believing in themselves, and this is the tightest team I've ever had. They just love each other so much, and they're so close, and you can just feel how connected they are out there, and that's what keeps making the difference.
"So I am just incredibly proud of them. Thanks to all the fans who came out to support us today. It was an amazing atmosphere, and just a day that I'm not going to forget."
CAVALIER NOTES
- This is the third time in program history Virginia has finished as at least ACC regular-season co-champions, but the first time outright.
- The Cavaliers went 12-0 in ACC play for the first time in program history.
- Virginia has clinched the number one seed in next week's ACC Championships. The complete bracket will be announced later this evening.
- The Cavaliers' win streak improves to 13 matches.
- Melodie Collard is on a nine-match win streak.
UP NEXT
- The Cavaliers compete in the ACC Championships held in Cary, N.C., next Friday, April 17, through Sunday, April 19.
#8 Virginia 4, #14 NC State 2
Singles competition
1. #81 Vivian Yang (VA) def. #39 Mia Slama (NCSU) 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-4)
2. #23 Annabelle Xu (VA) vs. #53 Anna Zyryanova (NCSU) 6-4, 3-6, 4-4 UF
3. #46 Gabriella Broadfoot (NCSU) def. #82 Kaitlyn Rolls (VA) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
4. #65 Lavinia Tanasie (NCSU) def. #111 Isabelle Lacy (VA) 6-2, 6-3
5. #110 Martina Genis Salas (VA) def. Victoria Osuigwe (NCSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
6. Melodie Collard (VA) def. Jasmine Conway (NCSU) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #8 Melodie Collard/Vivian Yang (VA) def. #2 Victoria Osuigwe/Gabriella Broadfoot (NCSU) 6-4
2. #28 Annabelle Xu/Martina Genis Salas (VA) def. #70 Jasmine Conway/Anna Zyryanova (NCSU) 7-6 (7-4)
3. Mia Slama/Lavinia Tanasie (NCSU) def. Kaitlyn Rolls/Isabelle Lacy (VA) 7-5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,6,5,3,1)
T-3:40 A-245