Atlantic 10 Conference Quarterfinals
Score: #1 VCU 4, #8 Richmond 3
Location: Orlando, Fla. (USTA National Campus)
Records: VCU 15-8, Richmond 9-14
The short story: Sophomore Magda Aubets earned a hard-fought, three-set triumph on the No. 3 court to lift top-seeded and defending champion VCU past plucky Richmond Thursday in Atlantic 10 Conference Quarterfinal action.
FIRST SERVE
- VCU, which defeated the Spiders 5-2 on April 18, met a stiff challenge from its crosstown rival. Richmond earned the doubles point and held a 2-1 lead in the match before the Rams fought back to earn the win.
- With the score tied 3-3, Aubets outlasted Richmond's Gaby Rosales 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 to give VCU the match. Rosales led the third set 3-2 before Aubets took command. It's Aubets second win over Rosales this season.
- In addition to Aubets, VCU received singles victories from Janina Braun on the No. 1 court, Anna Rasmussen at No. 2 and Noumea Witmus at No. 4.
- Braun and Rasmussen also combined for a 6-2 doubles triumph over Kiana Marshall and Lyndell Giffenig.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- VCU is in search of its sixth consecutive conference championship. The Rams have won the last four A-10 crowns.
- Braun improved to a team-best 24-7 in singles action this year, including 13-4 on the No. 1 court.
- Rasmussen is now 11-1 this season when she plays on the No. 2 singles court.
THE RESULTS
VCU 4, RICHMOND 3
Singles
1. Janina Braun (VCU) def. Dessislava Zlateva, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
2. Anna Rasmussen (VCU) def. Lea Owens, 6-2, 6-3
3. Magda Aubets (VCU) def. Gaby Rosales, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3
4. Kiana Marshall (UR) def. Darya Berezhnaya, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
5. Kelsey Williams (UR) def. Gabriela Araujo, 6-2, 7-5
6. Noumea Witmus (VCU) def. Ana Ramirez, 7-5, 6-1
Order of Finish: 2, 5, 6, 1, 4, 3
Doubles
1. Janina Braun/Anna Rasmussen (VCU) def. Kiana Marshall/Lyndell Giffenig, 6-2
2. Dessislava Zlateva/Gaby Rosales (UR) def. Darya Berezhnaya/Magda Aubets, 6-4
3. Lea Owens/Brittany Boys (UR) def. Noumea Witmus/Isabella Camargo, 7-5
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
NEXT UP
VCU will take on the winner of fourth-seeded Davidson and fifth-seeded Saint Louis on Saturday, April 29 at 10 a.m. in Orlando.
