University of Richmond Athletics
Women’s Tennis 2019-20 Season Ended After Winning Streak
04/03/2020 | Women's Tennis
RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond women's tennis team finished the 2019-20 campaign on a three-match winning streak before the season was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Spiders ended up with a winning record of 6-5 after an undefeated spring break trip (2-0) to end the season. Richmond came into the 2019-20 season with a ton of promise with four seniors returning in Lyndell Giffenig (Salisbury, Conn.), Kiana Marshall (Bridgetown, Barbados), Dessi Zlateva (Sofia, Bulgaria) and Lea Owens (Olney, Md.).
The Spiders competed in three fall tournaments and opened up 1-0 in dual matches with a 7-0 sweep against Mary Washington on Sept. 28. Richmond had a strong fall individually with freshman Andrea Campodonico (Asuncion, Paraguay) leading the team with a 7-2 singles record. Junior Emily Dunbar (Medina, Ohio) finished with a 6-2 singles record in the fall with Owens and Zlateva also winning six matches. Marshall was 5-3 in singles and sophomore Helene Heiberg (Oslo, Norway) was a perfect 3-0 in singles. Freshmen Justine Bryson (Tortola, Virgin Islands) and Marta Buendia (Madrid, Spain) made their Spider debuts in fall tournaments.
Richmond opened its spring season on the road at Penn and came up just short in a 4-3 loss. It was a strong statement as Penn had a doubles team ranked No. 16 nationally and the 12th best singles player in Iulia Brzgalova. The Spiders won the doubles point and picked up wins from Owens (No. 3 singles) and Heiberg (No. 4).
The Spiders lost three more matches to drop to 1-4 on the season with losses against Syracuse (L, 5-1), at Navy (L, 6-1) and 11th ranked Virginia (L, 7-0). Richmond turned its season around with a thrilling 4-3 win against Atlantic 10 foe Davidson at the Country Club of Virginia. The Spiders earned revenge after suffering a 4-3 loss against the Wildcats last season. Richmond won the doubles point and got wins from Zlateva (No. 2 singles), Marshall (No. 3) and Heiberg (No. 5). With the match tied at 3-3, Heiberg earned a dramatic comeback win against Mira Gladstone, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. Heiberg won the last two sets to give the Spiders the victory.
A week later, Richmond earned a 7-0 sweep against Hampton to improve to 3-4 on the season. The Spiders lost a road match at Liberty, 5-1, before defeating Delaware, 4-1, in the final home match of the season at March 6. The Spiders received wins from Zlateva (No. 2 singles), Marshall (No. 3), Campodonico (No. 5) and Heiberg (No. 6).
Richmond continued to player its best tennis after a 2-0 spring break trip to New Orleans. The Spiders earned a 6-0 sweep against Nicholls and a 6-1 win against the University of New Orleans. Richmond won the doubles point and picked up wins from Zlateva (No. 2 singles), Marshall (No. 3), Owens (No. 4), Campodonico (No. 5) and Heiberg (No. 6).
Campodonico led the team with a 13-6 overall record in singles and was 6-4 in dual matches. She was 5-1 at No. 5 singles, 1-1 at No. 4 and 0-2 at No. 6. Owens, Marshall and Zlateva each finished with 11 overally wins in singles. Zlateva was 5-5 at No. 2 singles, Marshall was 5-3 at No. 3, 1-0 at No. 2, and Owens was 2-0 at No. 3, 3-4 at No. 4. Heiberg went 9-1 in singles only losing one match all season. Dunbar was 10-9 in singles, including all 11 matches at No. 1.
In doubles, Dunbar and Marshall finished with the most wins with six. Not far behind was the team of Campodonico and Giffenig with five wins. Owens and Zlateva also had five wins with four of those coming in the fall.
The remaining 10 matches were canceled, including three A-10 opponents. The Spiders will return three of their top six singles players next season.
-UR-
The Spiders ended up with a winning record of 6-5 after an undefeated spring break trip (2-0) to end the season. Richmond came into the 2019-20 season with a ton of promise with four seniors returning in Lyndell Giffenig (Salisbury, Conn.), Kiana Marshall (Bridgetown, Barbados), Dessi Zlateva (Sofia, Bulgaria) and Lea Owens (Olney, Md.).
The Spiders competed in three fall tournaments and opened up 1-0 in dual matches with a 7-0 sweep against Mary Washington on Sept. 28. Richmond had a strong fall individually with freshman Andrea Campodonico (Asuncion, Paraguay) leading the team with a 7-2 singles record. Junior Emily Dunbar (Medina, Ohio) finished with a 6-2 singles record in the fall with Owens and Zlateva also winning six matches. Marshall was 5-3 in singles and sophomore Helene Heiberg (Oslo, Norway) was a perfect 3-0 in singles. Freshmen Justine Bryson (Tortola, Virgin Islands) and Marta Buendia (Madrid, Spain) made their Spider debuts in fall tournaments.
Richmond opened its spring season on the road at Penn and came up just short in a 4-3 loss. It was a strong statement as Penn had a doubles team ranked No. 16 nationally and the 12th best singles player in Iulia Brzgalova. The Spiders won the doubles point and picked up wins from Owens (No. 3 singles) and Heiberg (No. 4).
The Spiders lost three more matches to drop to 1-4 on the season with losses against Syracuse (L, 5-1), at Navy (L, 6-1) and 11th ranked Virginia (L, 7-0). Richmond turned its season around with a thrilling 4-3 win against Atlantic 10 foe Davidson at the Country Club of Virginia. The Spiders earned revenge after suffering a 4-3 loss against the Wildcats last season. Richmond won the doubles point and got wins from Zlateva (No. 2 singles), Marshall (No. 3) and Heiberg (No. 5). With the match tied at 3-3, Heiberg earned a dramatic comeback win against Mira Gladstone, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. Heiberg won the last two sets to give the Spiders the victory.
A week later, Richmond earned a 7-0 sweep against Hampton to improve to 3-4 on the season. The Spiders lost a road match at Liberty, 5-1, before defeating Delaware, 4-1, in the final home match of the season at March 6. The Spiders received wins from Zlateva (No. 2 singles), Marshall (No. 3), Campodonico (No. 5) and Heiberg (No. 6).
Richmond continued to player its best tennis after a 2-0 spring break trip to New Orleans. The Spiders earned a 6-0 sweep against Nicholls and a 6-1 win against the University of New Orleans. Richmond won the doubles point and picked up wins from Zlateva (No. 2 singles), Marshall (No. 3), Owens (No. 4), Campodonico (No. 5) and Heiberg (No. 6).
Campodonico led the team with a 13-6 overall record in singles and was 6-4 in dual matches. She was 5-1 at No. 5 singles, 1-1 at No. 4 and 0-2 at No. 6. Owens, Marshall and Zlateva each finished with 11 overally wins in singles. Zlateva was 5-5 at No. 2 singles, Marshall was 5-3 at No. 3, 1-0 at No. 2, and Owens was 2-0 at No. 3, 3-4 at No. 4. Heiberg went 9-1 in singles only losing one match all season. Dunbar was 10-9 in singles, including all 11 matches at No. 1.
In doubles, Dunbar and Marshall finished with the most wins with six. Not far behind was the team of Campodonico and Giffenig with five wins. Owens and Zlateva also had five wins with four of those coming in the fall.
The remaining 10 matches were canceled, including three A-10 opponents. The Spiders will return three of their top six singles players next season.
-UR-
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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