University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Wake Forest Invitational
Spiders Impress At Wake Forest Invitational
10/03/2016 | Women's Tennis
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The University of Richmond women's tennis team is proving that it's youth isn't a burden, but rather a strength this season.
For the second-straight tournament, freshmen have led the way for the Spiders, as newcomers Kiana Marshall and Dessislava Zlateva both won their singles flights at the Wake Forest Invitational.
“Kiana and Dessi were both very impressive this weekend and dominated their flights,” head coach Mark Wesselink said. “Kiana is undefeated in fall play having gone 3-0 at the Elon Tournament and 4-0 at Wake, while Dessi just keeps getting stronger.”
Marshall went 4-0 in the B singles bracket, not dropping a set through singles competition. She started the tournament with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Louisville's Olivia Boesing, followed by a 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Navy's Louie Meadows. She then defeated Rozel Hernandez of Navy, 6-4, 6-2 before taking down Elon's Suzanne Zenoni in the finals, 7-6(3), 6-0.
Zlateva was the champion of the C singles bracket, finishing with a 4-0 record. Like Marshall, she also did not drop a set in the tournament. She took down Navy's Audrey Channel (6-3, 6-0) and Davidson's Ava Todd (7-5, 6-2), before taking a 6-3, 6-2 win over ECU's Maria Storozheva. Zlateva then defeated Navy's Sofi Wreder in the final, 6-4, 6-2.
Brittany Boys and Lea Owens also competed in the B singles flight, each going 1-1 before not playing their match against one another in the consolation bracket. Gabby Rosales finished the tournament with a 1-2 record in the A singles bracket.
Lyndell Giffenig, Kelsey Williams and Ana Ramirez all competed in the D singles flight. Giffenig finished with a 2-1 record in the consolation bracket, while Ramirez finished second in her bracket, falling in the final to Davidson's Alexa Abele.
In doubles action, Williams and Ramirez competed in the D flight, finishing second. Boys and Owens teamed up to finish third in the A flight, while Marshall and Rosales finished fourth in the B flight. Zlateva and Giffenig competed in the C doubles flight.
“Our whole team is playing at such a high level,” Wesselink added. “Everyone is pumped to see what we can accomplish this season, both in the fall and in spring dual match play.”
The Spiders return to fall action on October 13, when they travel to Norfolk, Virginia, to compete in the Atlantic Region Singles Championships.
