Score: VCU 4, EAST TENNESSEE STATE 3
Location: Johnson City, TN.
Records: VCU 5-2, ETSU 2-3

The Short Story: In one of the most intense battles of the young season, VCU veterans Noumea Witmus and Kanako Yano stepped up to win their respective singles matches to give the Rams a comeback victory.

OPENING SERVE

• The freshman duo of Gabriela Ana-Maria Davidescu and Luminita Tutunaru kicked off the morning with a quick 6-0 victory over Laylo Bakhodirova and Alejandra Morales to give the Rams an early advantage.
• After VCU dropped the No. 3 doubles match, Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado and Noumea Witmus clinched the early advantage with a 6-4 defeat over Raquel Amaro and Andrea Pascual-Larrinaga. Diaz-Delgado and Witmus improved to 7-0 as a pair this spring.
• Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado made quick work of Laylo Bakhodirova 6-3, 6-0 in No. 1 singles.
• The Bucs went on to win three consecutive singles matches heading into the final two matches.
• Seeking two straight wins to complete the comeback, Noumea Witmus didn't get off to a great start dropping the first set 4-6. The senior remained poised and took the second set 7-6(7-2). Witmus found her rhythm as she rolled through the third set 6-3 giving the Rams a chance.
• With every match completed, the Rams and Bucs were tied 3-3 with Kanako Yano facing off with Maria Carvajal. Yano kicked off the match with a 7-5 win before dropping the second set 4-6. With the game on the line, Yano stepped up and executed in the third set as she defeated Carvajal 6-0, clinching the Rams 4-3 victory.

THE RESULTS

DOUBLES

1. Gabriela Ana-Maria Davidescu/Luminita Tutunaru (VCU) def. Laylo Bakhodirova/Alejandra Morales (ETSU) 6-0
2.  Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado/Noumea Witmus (VCU) def. Raquel Amaro/Andrea Pascual-Larrinaga (ETSU) 6-4
3. Michelle de Haan/Maria Carvajal (ETSU) def. Melissa Ifidzhen/Kanako Yano (VCU) 6-2

Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2

SINGLES

1. Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado (VCU) def. Laylo Bakhodirova (ETSU) 6-3, 6-0
2. Alejandra Morales (ETSU) def. Luminita Tutunaru (VCU) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(7-4)
3. Andrea Pascual-Larrinaga (ETSU) def. Gabriela Ana-Maria Davidescu (VCU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Raquel Amaro (ETSU) def. Melissa Ifidzhen (VCU) 7-5, 6-1
5. Kanako Yano (VCU) def. Maria Carvajal (ETSU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-0
6. Noumea Witmus (VCU) def. Yunuen Elizarraras (ETSU) 4-6, 7-6(7-2), 6-3

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

UP NEXT

VCU will have the week off before hosting Penn State on Saturday, February 15 at 10 a.m. All home VCU tennis matches will take place in the Thalhimer Tennis Center. Admission is free to the public and VCU students.