Score: VCU 4, JMU 3
Location: Harrisonburg, Va.
Records: VCU 6-5, James Madison 8-3

The Short Story: Despite dropping the doubles point, VCU rallied behind four singles victories to come from behind and defeat James Madison on Friday afternoon.

OPENING SERVE

• Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado and Noumea Witmus improved to 8-2 as a pair after defeating Amanda Nord and Kylie Moulin in No. 3 doubles 6-4.
• With the doubles point on the line, the freshman combo of Gabriela Ana-Maria Davidescu and Luminita Tutunaru were trailing 5-4 before rallying back. The duo went back-and-forth with the Dukes before dropping the match 7-6(7-2).
• In singles play, Luminita Tutunaru got the Rams on the board with a convincing 6-1, 6-1 victory over Jona Roka in No. 2 singles.
• No. 117 Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado picked up her eighth win on the season with a 7-5, 6-3 victory in No. 1 singles.
• Senior Noumea Witmus won her sixth straight match after defeating Amanda Nord 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
• With the match on the line, veteran Kanako Yano remained poised and stepped up to defeat Natalia Nikolopoulou in No. 5 singles. The junior picked up her second victory of the season in which it was a must win situation.

THE RESULTS

DOUBLES:

1. Daniela Voloh/Natalia Nikolopoulou (JMU) def. Gabriela Ana-Maria Davidescu/Luminita Tutunaru (VCU) 7-6(7-2)

2. Jona Roka/Daria Afanasyeva (JMU) def. Melissa Ifidzhen/Shivani Manjanna (VCU) 6-3

3.  Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado/Noumea Witmus (VCU) def. Amanda Nord/Kylie Moulin (JMU) 6-4

Order of Finish – 3, 2, 1

SINGLES: 

1. Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado (VCU) def. Daria Afanasyeva (JMU) 7-5, 6-3

2. Luminita Tutunaru (VCU) def. Jona Roka (JMU) 6-1, 6-1

3. Daniela Voloh (JMU) def. Shivani Manjanna (VCU) 7-5, 6-0

4. Kylie Moulin (JMU) def. Gabriela Ana-Maria Davidescu (VCU) 7-6(7-5), 3-6, 7-5

5. Kanako Yano (VCU) def. Natalia Nikolopoulou (JMU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4

6. Noumea Witmus (VCU) def. Amanda Nord (JMU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2

Order of Finish – 2, 3, 1, 6, 4, 5

UP NEXT

The Rams will host in-state rival Old Dominion at the Thalhimer Tennis Center on Sunday, March 8 at 4 p.m. Admission is free to the general public and VCU students.