Spiders Fall in Midweek Battle at VCU, 4-3

Wednesday, April 18

Richmond, VA

2:30PM

University of Richmond

VCU

04/18/2018 | Women's Tennis

RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond women's tennis team battled until the finish on Wednesday afternoon against rival VCU, but the Spiders were unable to clinch the win, falling 4-3 to the Rams.

VCU narrowly picked up the doubles point with win on court 1 and a 6-4 win on court 2. Dessi Zlateva and Lea Owens were up 5-2 on court 3, but the match went unfinished.

"I feel good about our doubles play despite the lost point," head coach Mark Wesselink said after the match." We continue to improve, and I'm confident going into the A-10 Tournament."

The Rams jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a singles win at No. 5, but Owens downed Noumea Witmus on court 4, 6-3, 6-2, to cut the lead in half.

Another win for VCU on court 2 brought the Rams to within one points of winning, but Emily Dunbar won over Anna Rasmussen on court 1, 6-4, 6-2, and Zlateva defeated Marina Alcaide Bakkari, 7-6 (2), 6-4 on court 4 to tie things up at 3-3.

The match came down to court 6, where freshman Adrienne Haynes duked it out with Sofia Sualehe. Despite a comeback attempt by Haynes with a second set win, she was unable to clinch the match, falling 6-1, 5-7, 6-3.

"Today's match was a tough one, but everyone is excited for A-10s next week," Wesselink added.

The Spiders are set to head to Orlando for the 2018 Atlantic 10 Tennis Championships, held at the USTA National Campus April 25-29.

VCU 4, Richmond 3
SINGLES
1. Emily Dunbar (UR) def. Anna Rasmussen (VCU) - 6-4, 6-2
2. Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado (VCU) def. Kiana Marshall (UR) - 6-4, 6-1
3. Dessi Zlateva (UR) def. Marina Alcaide Bakkari (VCU) - 7-6(2), 6-4
4. Lea Owens (UR) def. Noumea Witmus (VCU) - 6-3, 6-2
5. Kanako Yano (VCU) def. Gaby Rosales (UR) - 6-1, 6-3
6. Sofia Sualehe (VCU) vs. Adrienne Haynes (UR) - 6-1, 5-7, 6-3
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 2, 1, 3, 6

DOUBLES
1. Rasmussen/Yano (VCU) def. Dunbar/ Marshall (UR) - 6-1
2. Exposito Diaz-Delgado/Witmus (VCU) def. Lyndell Giffenig/Haynes (UR) - 6-4
3. Alcaide Bakkari/Sualehe (VCU) vs. Zlateva/Owens (UR) - 2-5 (DNF)
Order of Finish: 1, 2