Tennis dominant as Spring slate hits full tilt

Men’s and women’s tennis each finished the week perfect after a trio of victories pushed their records to 7-2 and 8-2, respectively.

Women v. Howard

Women’s tennis breezed through its midweek match against Howard University, going into the weekend winning 7-0 without dropping a set and losing just 10 games across seven matches on Feb. 22.

After a Howard default at No. 3 doubles, junior Anna Rasmussen and freshman Melissa Ifidzhen, the reigning Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively, clinched the doubles point with a 6-1 victory over Nathalie Finch and Nicole Hutchinson. This was the sixth victory in a row for the duo, and the 11th of the season — a team high.

Playing her first match at No. 1 singles this season, freshman Paola Exposito Diaz Delgado continued the VCU lead to 3-0 with a straight set victory over Finch 6-1, 6-0.

Ifidzhen clinched the match for the Black and Gold with a win at No. 3 singles, defeating Christina Joynes 6-0, 6-1.

VCU rounded out the sweep with wins by sophomore Noumea Witmus in No. 2 singles match and freshmen Marina Alcaide Bakari and Sofia Sualehe in No. 2 doubles.

Women v. Maryland

The women traveled to the University of Maryland, College Park Feb. 24. Down 3-1, VCU rallied to win the final three singles matches of the day and beat the Terrapins 4-3 on the road on Saturday afternoon.

After VCU dropped the doubles point, Ifidzhen got the Rams on the board and moving with a win at No. 4 singles, defeating Kate Yemelyanenka 6-2, 6-2.

The Terrapins stretched the lead 3-1 with wins at No. 2 and No. 6 singles.

VCU won the next three matches to complete the comeback win. Rasmussen defeated Eva Alexandrova, who is ranked No. 81 in the country, at No. 1 singles 6-3, 7-6. Freshman Marina Alcaide Bakari topped Millie Stretton 7-6, 6-1 at No. 3 singles.

Witmus was the only Ram to win at both doubles and singles, defeating Anastasiia Gevel at No. 5 singles, 6-4, 7-6 to clinch the match for VCU.

This is the third school from a power five conference that VCU has defeated this season. Earlier in February, the Rams beat the the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University on consecutive days. All three wins came on the road and VCU now holds a 4-0 road record this season.

Men v. George Washington

Men’s tennis also flew through their afternoon match against The George Washington University on Feb. 24, collecting their second Atlantic 10 win of the season.

After a default by George Washington at No. 3 doubles, junior Arvid Noren and sophomore Javier Amantegui captured the doubles point for VCU with a 6-4 win over Chris Fletcher and Christos Hadjigeorgiou. They lead the team with eight doubles wins this season.

Another George Washington default at the No. 6 singles pushed the VCU lead to 2-0.

Freshman Inigo Torre Martin continued his strong form, collecting his tenth win of the season by defeating Amian Sahoo 6-0, 6-1 at No. 5 singles.

Amantegui clinched the match for the Rams by taking down Hadjigeorgiou in straight sets at No. 3 singles, 6-1, 6-2.

Victories by Noren and juniors Victor Lima and Philip Mobius in No. 1 doubles rounded out the 7-0 win.

The women will travel to Huntington, West Virginia, next weekend to take on the University of Cincinnati and Marshall University on March 3 and 4. The men’s team fell to Penn State University 5-0 at Thalhimer Tennis Center Sunday, and return to action Friday at 2 p.m. when they host Saint Louis University.

Jessica Wetzler, Staff Writer