Score: VCU 4, Appalachian State 3
Location: Boone, N.C.
Records: VCU 7-5 (1-0 Atlantic 10), 5-7 Appalachian State
 
The Short Story: VCU Women's Tennis earned a dramatic 4-3 victory over Appalachian State, with Mariam Ibrahim clinching the deciding point Friday afternoon in Boone, N.C.

Quote from Coach Kahfiani: "Our belief in ourselves and each other keeps growing. We've been in tough spots before, learned from every one of them. And today, we found a way to close it out. Great road win before we leave for spring break to FL!"
 
Opening Serve

• Both teams entered today's match in solid form. The Rams had gone 3-1 in their last four contests, earning wins over Howard, George Washington, and Georgetown before suffering a tough 4-3 loss to JMU. Meanwhile, Appalachian State came in with a 5-6 record, riding momentum from back-to-back 5-2 victories over UT Arlington and Davidson.
• Much like the Rams trip to Harrisonburg last Sunday, today's match unfolded in near-identical fashion. The Rams and the Mountaineers traded points throughout the afternoon, and despite the overall match being extremely tight, nearly every court was decided in straight sets, with only one contest going the distance. Once again, Mariam Ibrahim was the final Ram in action with the overall score tied 3-3 and the match on the line. In the decisive moment, she delivered the deciding point to clinch a 4-3 victory for the Rams.

Doubles

• Doubles play began on Court 2, where Sofia Jane Thorne and Andrea Magallanes fell 6-4. Viktoria Lackova and Sara Alba were also edged 6-4 on Court 3, securing the doubles point for Appalachian State. On Court 1, Mariam Ibrahim and Tania Isabel Andrade Sabando held an early lead before play was halted at 5-6. 

Singles

• Despite falling in doubles, the Rams responded with strong performances across the lineup in singles. On Court 4, Viktoria Lackova was the first to finish, earning a 6-2, 6-3 straight-sets victory over Appalachian State's Taya Powell. In both sets, the score remained close early at 3-2, but Lackova pulled away each time to secure the win and tie the match for the Rams. 
• Andrea Magallanes followed on Court 5 with an equally convincing performance, securing a 6-2, 6-2 win to give VCU the lead 2-1 in the match. Similar to Lackova, Magallanes found herself ahead 3-2 in both sets, but proved to be a class above her counterpart from Appalachian State as she pulled away each time.
• On Court 1, Sofia Jane Thorne faced a tough test against No. 8-ranked Savannah Dada-Mascoll. The opening set was competitive, with Dada-Mascoll narrowly taking the opening set before Thorne ultimately fell in straight sets.
• On Court 2, Tania Isabel Andrade Sabando battled through a competitive opening set before pulling away in the second to once again give the Rams the advantage, claiming a 6-4, 6-0 victory.
• With the overall score tied 3-3, the match came down to Court 3, where Mariam Ibrahim delivered when it mattered most. After jumping out to an early 3-0 lead in the first set, Ibrahim saw the opener slip away 6-3, giving the advantage to the Mountaineers. In the second set, Ibrahim took a narrow 2-1 lead and claimed the second set 6-4, sending the match to a third set. In the final set of the day, Ibrahim rose to the moment, taking the set 6-2 to clinch the match for the Rams and improve her singles total to seven wins on the year.

Singles results
1. No. 8 Savannah Dada-Mascoll (APP) def. Sofia Jane Thorne (VCU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Tania Isabel Andrade Sabando (VCU) def. Naledi Manyube (APP) 6-4, 6-0
3. Mariam Ibrahim (VCU) def. Taya Powell (APP) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
4. Viktoria Lackova (VCU) def. Allegra Hodson (APP) 6-2, 6-3
5. Andrea Magallanes (VCU) def. Ruby Broadbent (APP) 6-2, 6-2
6. Sreenidhi Balaji (APP) def. Sara Alba (VCU) 6-3, 6-2
 
Doubles results
1. Mariam Ibrahim / Tania Isabel Andrade Sabando (VCU) vs. Savannah DadaMascoll / Taya Powell (APP) 5-6 (Unfinished)
2. Ruby Broadbent / Naledi Manyube (APP) def. Sofia Jane Thorne / Andrea Magallanes (VCU) 6-4
3. Sreenidhi Balaji / Allegra Hodson (APP) def. Sara Alba / Viktoria Lackova (VCU) 6-4
 
Order of Finish: Doubles: 2, 3     Singles: 4, 5, 1, 2, 6, 3
 
Up Next: VCU will be back in action on Wednesday, March 11, as the Rams take on USF in Tampa, Fla., at 5 p.m.