RICHMOND, Va. – The Elon University women’s tennis team claimed a 4-1 victory over the Richmond Spiders on Friday, March 3, at the Country Club of Virginia.
After the Phoenix claimed the doubles point and two additional singles matches to take a 3-1 lead, Erica Braschi clinched the contest for the maroon and gold with a 6-1, 7-6 (5) victory at the No. 1 position. Elon improves to 9-4 overall on the season and has won five of its last six matches. Richmond falls to 3-4 with the loss.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
After Richmond took the first doubles match, 6-2, on court No. 2, Elon rallied to win the top and bottom courts to claim the doubles point. Maria Paraja and Alex Koniaev earned a 7-6 (7-3) victory at the No. 1 position to begin the comeback. Braschi and Olivia Lucas then clinched the doubles point with a 7-6 (7-0) victory on court three to give the Phoenix a 1-0 lead in the match.
Paraja got things started in singles action, defeating Kiana Marshall of Richmond 6-4, 6-2 to give Elon a 2-0 advantage. Suzanne Zenoni then made quick work of the Spiders’ Gaby Rosales, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2 singles to extend Elon’s lead, 3-0.
Brittany Boys would earn Richmond’s lone point in the match, claiming a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 6 singles against Koniaev to cut Elon’s lead, 3-1, with three singles matches to play.
Braschi then clinched the victory for the Phoenix, defeating Dessislava Zlateva 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) at the No. 1 singles position. Both Olivia Lucas and Kirsten Ward were leading at the No. 3 and No. 5 positions respectively when the match ended.
Up Next
Elon returns to action tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. The Phoenix will face the No. 42-ranked VCU Rams at the Thalhimer Tennis Center.
Elon 4, Richmond 1
Doubles Results
1) Paraja/Koniaev (Elon) def. Rosales/Boys (Richmond) 7-6 (7-3)
2) Marshall/Giffenig (Richmond) def. Zenoni/Ward (Elon) 6-2
3) Braschi/Lucas (Elon) def. Owens/Zlateva (Richmond) 7-6 (7-0)
Singles Results
1) Braschi (Elon) def. Zlateva (Richmond) 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
2) Zenoni (Elon) def. Rosales (Richmond) 6-3, 6-4
3) Owens (Richmond) vs. Lucas (Elon) 7-5, 1-6, 3-2 (DNF)
4) Paraja (Elon) def. Marshall (Richmond) 6-4, 6-2
5) Ramirez (Richmond) vs. Ward (Elon) 3-6, 7-5, 4-2 (DNF)
6) Boys (Richmond) def. Koniaev (Elon) 6-4, 6-3
Order of Finish
Doubles: 2,1,3
Singles: 4,2,6,1