WILMINGTON, Del. - - Top seeded Wilmington University advanced to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship with a 4-0 victory over No. 4 Chestnut Hill in the Semifinals on Friday morning at the Delcastle Tennis Center.
With the win, and a late comeback victory by No. 2 Jefferson over No. 3 USciences, the Wildcats (8-0) will play Jefferson on Saturday for the 2021 CACC Women's Tennis Championship.
The Wildcats lost only one doubles match all season and that dominance continued on Friday as the home team took the first two doubles matches to earn the point. Larize Nel and Fenna Swaan started the action with a 6-2 win at No. 3 doubles, followed by Marley Trifunovic and Valentina Ivankovic winning at No. 2 doubles, 6-2.
Neus Ramos Moreno and Jess Purdy were winning at No. 1 doubles, 4-3, when the match was called.
Marley Trifunovic kept the momentum rolling at No. 5 singles, winning 6-1 and 6-1 to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. Larize Nel put the Wildcats one win away from the team victory with a 6-2 and 6-1 victory at No. 6 singles. Valentina Ivankovic followed shortly behind Nel with a win at No. 4 singles, 6-2 and 6-4, locking up the team victory, 4-0.
Jess Purdy was leading, 6-4 and 3-1, at No. 2 singles while Begona Gomar was leading 6-2 and 4-3 at No. 3 singles when the match was called.
Jefferson lost the doubles point to USciences in the second semifinal, and fell behind 2-0 after the first singles match. But the Rams fought back, taking a 3-2 lead. But the Devils won at No. 3 singles to tie the match, 3-3, putting all eyes on No. 6 singles. The pair went to a third set tiebreaker, with Jefferson coming from behind after losing the first set to send her team into the Championship match.
The first serve on Saturday is set for 12:00 p.m. The winner earns the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Regional Tournament at the end of Spring.
