24TH-RANKED RAMS RETURN HOME TO DROP GEORGIA STATE, 6-1

RICHMOND, Va. – On Saturday morning in Richmond, the 11th annual Monument Avenue 10k was run by nearly 40,000 participants.

While there is not quite that many players on the Virginia Commonwealth University women's tennis roster, this upcoming stretch may feel like running a 10k for the Black & Gold.

If that's the case, the Rams have sped ahead of the competition through the first third after a 6-1 thrashing of Georgia State. The conference match is the first of a stretch of three matches in three days, two of which are against CAA foes, for the Black & Gold.

VCU swept through the doubles matches led by the duo of Alex Bara (Oradea, Romania) and Olena Leonchuk (Kiev, Ukraine) at #3 doubles with a 8-1 beat down of Kir Kemp and Lindsay Hearn.

Freshman Manuela Pietzuch (Hechingen, Germany) kept the momentum going into the singles competition with a 6-1, 6-0 win at #6 singles, followed by reigning CAA Player of the Week Kateryna Yergina (Kiev, Ukraine) picking up a straight set win at #2 singles, 6-2, 6-1.

Laura Burns (Hertford, England), Bara and senior Olena Leonchuk (Kiev, Ukraine) all went on to register singles wins and help the Rams secure their 14th win of the year.

Next up for the Black & Gold are the Terriers of Boston University in a 10 a.m. match on Sunday morning at Thalhimer Tennis Center. #24 VCU 6, Georgia State 1

Doubles:
1. Ana Bara/Hjertquist def. Nakic/Hricistova (GSU), 8-7 (5)
2. #47 Burns/Yergina def. Gresova/Lerova (GSU), 8-4
3. Alex Bara/Leonchuk def. Kemp-Hearn (GSU), 8-1
Order of Finish: 3,2,1

Singles:
1. #28 Diana Nakic (GSU) def. Josefin Hjertquist (VCU), 6-1, 6-4
3. Yergina (VCU) def. Kir Kemp, 6-2, 6-1
5. Burns def. Katerina Gresova, 6-3, 6-0
4. Alex Bara def. Tereza Lerova, 6-3, 6-3
6. Leonchuk def. Linda Hricistova, 6-4, 6-2
6. Pietzuch def. Lindsay Hearn (GSU), 6-1, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6,2,3,5,1,4