VCU’s run at the William & Mary finals ended with Olga Borisova’s loss Sunday.
After advancing to the finals at the William & Mary Invitational, Olga Borisova (Minsk, Belarus) lost the Flight ‘B’ single final 6-4, 6-4 to North Carolina’s Katrina Tsang.
Players to watch
The Rams’ only senior, and one of their strongest players, Olga Borisova went all the way to the finals at Sunday’s William & Mary Invitational. Her record for doubles play last season stands at 24-0. She has earned ITA All-American honors in doubles and 2006 CAA Co-Player of the Year, with an 18-0 record at fourth position last season.
Junior Marianna Yuferova, a versatile player on the court in singles or doubles play, was nationally ranked in 2005 in 2006, having earned ITA All-American honors in 2005. In addition to having been named 2006 CAA Co-Player of the Year, Yuferova was 22-4 in singles play last season.
Sophomore Tatsiana Uvarova, an aggressive player on the courts with strong forehand and backhand strokes, is currently ranked 16th in the ITA Preseason Poll. Having advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight in the spring, Uvarova achieved All-American status with a 25-2 singles record.
Her advancement through the Invitational came thanks to a withdrawal in the quarterfinal match, and two wins in the semifinals, first against Penn’s Julia Koulbitskaya and then against UNC’s Sanaz Marand.
Prior to Sunday’s match, Borisova’s personal win streak stood at 27 matches, having won all 24 dual matches in the 2006 season, and then three more to advance to the finals.
Returning players Marianna Yuferova and Olga Borisova are the 13th-ranked doubles team in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. 16th-ranked Tatsiana Uvarova joined the team just in time for the Spring 2006 season.
VCU will next face N.C. State on their home turf in Raleigh for the Wolfpack Invitational. At the end of last season, the Rams defeated N.C. State in the NCAA Tournament to move on to the Sweet 16.
Before last weekend’s victory, N.C. State was ranked 36th and VCU 19th in the April 11 ITA coaches’ poll. UNC was ranked number 10.
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