Score: VCU 4, Elon 3

Date: Feb. 18, 2018

Location: Elon, N.C. (Jimmy Powell Tennis Center)

Records: VCU (6-2), Elon (4-4)

The short story: The Rams utilized big performances from freshmen to clinch a tightly-contested match against Elon in a road non-conference match on Sunday.

OPENING SERVE

• Junior Anna Rasmussen and freshman Melissa Ifidzhen started things off for the Rams, winning their fifth straight and team-leading 10th doubles match of the year. Freshman duo Marina Alcaide Bakkari and Sofia Sualehe then clinched the doubles point for VCU with a 6-2 victory over Erica Braschi and Montana Moore.
• Ramussen and Ifidzhen then extended the VCU lead to 3-1 with wins at No. 1 and No. 4 singles, respectively. Rasmussen beat Olivia Lucas and Ifidzhen defeated Alex Koniaev, both in straight sets.
• The Phoenix tied the match at 3-3 with wins at No. 5 and No. 6 singles.
• In the only three-set match of the day, freshman Paola Expostio Diaz Delgado clinched the win for VCU by defeating Braschi 6-1, 5-7, 6-2. It was her fourth consecutive win and ninth win overall this season.

THE RESULTS

Doubles

1. Anna Rasmussen/Melissa Ifidzhen (VCUW) def. Maria Paraja/Suzanne Zenoni (ELON) 6-2

2. Olivia Lucas/Alex Koniaev (ELON) def. Paola Delgado/Noumea Witmus (VCUW) 6-2

3. Marina Alcaide/Sofia Sualehe (VCUW) def. Erica Braschi/Montana Moore (ELON) 6-2

Order of finish: 2, 1, 3

Singles

1. Anna Rasmussen (VCUW) def. Olivia Lucas (ELON) 6-2 (7-5), 7-6

2. Paola Delgado (VCUW) def. Erica Braschi (ELON) 6-1, 5-7, 6-2

3. Suzanne Zenoni (ELON) def. Marina Alcaide (VCUW) 6-4, 6-1

4. Melissa Ifidzhen (VCUW) def. Alex Koniaev (ELON) 7-6 (7-4), 6-1

5. Maria Paraja (ELON) def. Noumea Witmus (VCUW) 7-5, 7-6 (7-5)

6. Montana Moore (ELON) def. Sofia Sualehe (VCUW) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3

Order of finish: 3, 4, 1, 6, 5, 2

UP NEXT

The Rams return to Thalhimer Tennis Center to host Howard on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m.