Elon Women’s Tennis Takes Down Delaware with 7-0 Sweep

ELON, N.C. – Taylor Casey clinched the match at No. 6 singles and the Elon University women’s tennis team completed a 7-0 sweep of Delaware on Thursday, March 31, at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.

To avoid any expected rain in the area, the teams played singles before competing in doubles competition. Casey clinched the victory for Elon (8-9) with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Draga Sabotic of the Blue Hens (8-5) to give the Phoenix a 4-0 lead in the match.

HIGHLIGHTS
Olivia Lucas was the first to complete her match with a 6-0 first set triumph and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Amanda Studnicki 6-4 in the second at the No. 1 position. Her victory gave the Phoenix a 1-0 advantage. Elon extended its lead 2-0 when Suzanne Zenoni achieved a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Delaware’s Sara Komer on court four.

The Phoenix would clinch the victory with two singles matches that ended in quick succession. Immediately after Natalia Janowicz earned a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Annie Jaskulski at No. 3, Casey secured the clinching singles match and the fourth Phoenix point at the sixth court.

Erica Braschi and Kirsten Ward completed Elon’s sweep in singles action. Braschi came off the court first at the No. 2 position earning a 6-0, 7-5 victory over Denny LaMachia for her team-high 11th singles victory. She has now won seven consecutive singles matches.

Ward was the final singles match to wrap up as she defeated Sarah Hall 6-2, 7-6 (7-3). The Statesville, N.C. native earned a hard-fought victory playing in her first singles match since Feb. 13. She has been battling injuries this season.

In doubles action, the Phoenix swept all three matches to secure a 7-0 shutout. Lucas and Zenoni won the first doubles match 6-2 at No. 2 and No. 3 duo of Janowicz and Maria Paraja clinched the point with a 6-4 victory. Braschi and Taylor secured the doubles sweep with a 6-3 victory on the top court.

NOTE
Although the Phoenix faced off against fellow CAA member Delaware, the Colonial Athletic Association does not have a conference season, thus the match does not count against a conference record. The match goes down as a non-conference match.

UP NEXT
The Phoenix returns to action in Harrisonburg, Va. this weekend. Elon will face James Madison on Saturday at 11 a.m., followed by a match against Towson on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.

Tennis Match Results
Delaware vs Elon
Mar 31, 2016 at Elon, N.C.
(Jimmy Powell Tennis Center)
Elon 7, Delaware 0

Singles competition
1. Olivia Lucas (ELON) def. Amanda Studnicki (DELAWARE) 6-0, 6-4
2. Erica Braschi (ELON) def. Denny LaMachia (DELAWARE) 6-0, 7-5
3. Natalia Janowicz (ELON) def. Annie Jaskulski (DELAWARE) 6-2, 6-3
4. Suzanne Zenoni (ELON) def. Sara Komer (DELAWARE) 6-3, 6-3
5. Kirsten Ward (ELON) def. Sarah Hall (DELAWARE) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
6. Taylor Casey (ELON) def. Draga Sabotic (DELAWARE) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Taylor Casey/Erica Braschi (ELON) def. Amanda Studnicki/Denny LaMachia (DELAWARE) 6-3
2. Olivia Lucas/Suzanne Zenoni (ELON) def. Sara Komer/Draga Sabotic (DELAWARE) 6-2
3. Natalia Janowicz/Maria Paraja (ELON) def. Sarah Hall/Arielle Shuren (DELAWARE) 6-4

Match Notes:
Delaware 8-5
Elon 8-9
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,4,3,6,2,5)
T-2:37
A-46