MIDDLEBURY, Conn. - - For the second year in a row, the Wilmington University women's tennis team advances to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship match, defeating USciences, 4-0, on Saturday in the Semifinals at the Edgewood Bath & Tennis Club.
Playing as the number one seed, the Wildcats (8-4) quickly jumped on top of the Devils (7-6), by taking the first two doubles matches for the 1-0 lead. But the Devils put the pressure on the Wildcats in the singles matches, not making it easy for the Wildcats to advance.
The combo of Tess Paya and Marie Rondot gave the Wildcats the momentum with a 6-1 win at No. 3 doubles before Begona Gomar and Anushka Sathe gave the Wildcats the doubles point with a 61 win at No. 2. Laura Gil and Andrea Ribalta were winning, 4-3, when the doubles matches were called.
The singles matches didn't go as easily for the Wildcats, as the Devils came out and won the first set in three of the six matches.
That wasn't the case for Laura Gil, however, as she gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead with a 6-0 and 6-1 win at No. 3 singles. Andrea Ribalta was one of the Wildcats that dropped the first at No. 6 singles, but answered with back-to-back 6-2 set victories, to take the match, 1-6, 6-2, and 6-2, for the 3-0 team lead.
In a battle of First Team All-CACC performers, Begona Gomar dropped the first set to Karla Miletic at No. 1 singles, but Gomar fought back with a 6-3 victory in the second set to force a deciding third. Gomar left little doubt, coming all the way back with the 6-1 third set victory, clinching the match for the Wildcats, 4-0.
Anushka Sathe won the first set, 6-4, and was at 6-6 in the second set at No. 2 singles when the match was called. Marie Rondot won the first set, 6-3, at No. 4 singles, but dropped the second set, 1-6, and was down, 2-3, in the third when the match was decided. Tess Paya was also down at No. 5 singles, losing the first set, 4-6, and being down 4-5 when the match was won.
Third seeded Concordia defeated second seeded and two-time CACC Tournament champions Goldey-Beacom, 4-3, in the second semifinals on Saturday. The Wildcats will face Concordia for the CACC Tournament Championship on Sunday with an expected start time of 12:00 p.m. at the Edgewood Bath & Tennis Center.