Atlantic 10 Conference Championship
Score: VCU 4, Davidson 2
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio (Lindner Family Tennis Center)
Records: VCU 12-9, Davidson 18-5
The short story: Freshman Anna Rasmussen earned the clinching victory on the No. 2 court, her third singles win of the weekend, to help lift VCU to its fifth consecutive conference championship Sunday in Cincinnati, Ohio. With the win, the Rams also receive the Atlantic 10 Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
FIRST SERVE
- VCU has won four straight A-10 titles since joining the league prior to the 2012-13 season. The Rams also won the CAA crown in their final year in that league in 2012. VCU has won eight women's tennis conference championships since 2003.
- Sunday's championship is the 25th of longtime coach Paul Kostin's VCU career. Kostin, who own more than 1,000 career wins, has won 36 conference titles in men's and women's tennis overall.
- Rasmussen outlasted Gabrielle Centenari 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 to secure Sunday's win and continue her strong recent play. Rasmussen was 3-0 in A-10 Tournament play and has won seven straight singles contests.
- Freshman Janina Braun also won for the third time in the A-10 Tournament. She topped Megan Scholvinck 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 on the No. 4 court, a win that pushed the Rams out to a 3-0 lead in the match.
- Braun and Rasmussen also teamed for a 6-1 triumph over Sarah Stein and Laina Cummer on the No. 2 doubles court.
- Senior Olga Barshcheuskaya, who earned a win at No. 1 doubles, joined Salome Kvitashvili as the only VCU Women's Tennis players to win four conference championships.
RESULTS
#1 VCU def. #3 Davidson, 4-2
Singles
1-Anna Catharine Feaster (DAV) def. Olga Barshcheuskaya, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
2-Anna Rasmussen (VCU) def. Gabrielle Centenari, 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-2
3-Magda Aubets (VCU) vs. Ava Todd, 6-1, 6-7(7), 3-2, DNF
4-Janina Braun (VCU) def. Megan Scholvinck, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
5-Darya Berezhnaya (VCU) def. Laina Cummer, 7-6(1), 6-2
6-Jenna Brunner (DAV) def. Yana Morar, 7-6(2), 6-4
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 1, 6, 2
Doubles
1-Barshcheuskaya/Berezhnaya (VCU) def. Ally Sexton/Feaster, 6-4
2-Rasmussen/Braun (VCU) def. Sarah Stein/Cummer, 6-1
3-Centenari/Scholvinck (DAV) def. Aubets/Morar, 6-2
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
UP NEXT
The Rams will await their draw for the NCAA Tournament. The official bracket will be announced on Tuesday, May 3 at 5 p.m.
