Cardinals Take Down Hokies

Friday, March 5

Blacksburg, VA

12:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

Virginia Tech

Chelsea Sawyer smiles after winning a point

March 05, 2021 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

Louisville wins 5-2 in ACC road victory

By: Nancy Worley

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville women's tennis team got back in the win column, handling Virginia Tech 5-2 inside the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center.

With the victory, Louisville improves to 6-4, 3-2 in ACC action, while Virginia Tech drops to 2-7, 0-4 in the conference. Friday's match also marks the program's first win in Blacksburg, where the Cardinals were previously 0-6 all-time.

Raven Neely and Tatiana Simova started the afternoon by earning a convincing 6-2 win over Hokies' Annie Clark at No.2. The talented duo continues their hot start, extending their record to 9-1 in doubles competition. Chelsea Sawyer and Dina Chaika clinched the Cardinal's eighth first point this season, outlasting Erika Cheng and Katie Andreini 6-4 at No.3.

The Cardinals carried the momentum over from the doubles portion to take four out of the six singles courts in straight sets to clinch the sweep. Neely defeated Hokies' 6-3, 6-1 at No.3 before Rhea Verma handled Katie Andreini 6-2, 6-4 at No.5. Jelena Vujanic clinched the decisive match point, winning 6-1, 7-5 at No.6. The rest of the singles played out with Sawyer, Nikolina Jovic, and Andrea Di Palma all battling to tiebreakers on their respective courts.

Louisville will close out the weekend tomorrow, traveling to Charlottesville for a noon contest with No.15 Virginia.

Louisville 5, Virginia Tech Women's Tennis 2
Singles competition
1. Tamara Barad Itzhaki (VT) def. Nikolina Jovic (LOU) 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (8-6), 1-0 (10-7)
2. Nika Kozar (VT) def. Andrea DiPalma (LOU) 2-6, 7-5, 4-0, retired
3. Raven Neely (LOU) def. Nina Sorkin (VT) 6-3, 6-1
4. Chelsea Sawyer (LOU) def. Elizabet Danailova (VT) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
5. Rhea Verma (LOU) def. Katie Andreini (VT) 6-2, 6-4
6. Jelena Vujanic (LOU) def. Erika Cheng (VT) 6-1, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Elizabet Danailova/Nika Kozar (VT) vs. Andrea DiPalma/Rhea Verma (LOU) 3-5, unfinished
2. Tatiana Simova/Raven Neely (LOU) def. Annie Clark/Nina Sorkin (VT) 6-2
3. Chelsea Sawyer/Dina Chaika (LOU) def. Erika Cheng/Katie Andreini (VT) 6-4
Match Notes:
Louisville 6-4
Virginia Tech Women's Tennis 2-7
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (3,5,6,4,2,1)