ST. AUGUSTINE – The No. 5 (ITA Division II Collegiate Tennis Rankings) Flagler College women's tennis team held off a stubborn No. 24 Washburn University team 4-2 in a quarterfinal match at the NCAA Division II National Tournament Saturday afternoon at the USTA National Tennis Center.
Flagler advances to the national semifinals for the first time in the NCAA Division II era, which started in 2006-07). The Saints will face top-ranked Barry University on Monday at 4 p.m. The Buccaneers have won the last five national titles in a row and has won a total of seven titles altogether.
"Today was a team win," said head coach Rod Puebla. "From a comeback doubles point to cheering on Lu for the match winning point. I am beyond proud of this team for making history today."
The Saints won their ninth match in a row to improve to 22-4 this season. That's the most wins the program has recorded since 2001 when Flagler finished with the same 22-4 record. Washburn had its season end with an 18-7 record.
The first two doubles matches finished simultaneously with both teams winning a match. The team point came down to No. 1 doubles with a pair of nationally ranked pairs going head-to-head. No. 18
Luisa Hrda and
Dana Heimen out-lasted No. 8 Sonja Smagina and Maja Jung 7-6(2).
Flagler then won the first two singles matches to take a 3-0 lead.
Charlotta Buss won her eight consecutive match and improved to 16-1 at No. 6 with a 6-2, 6-0 triumph over Issabella Pensavalle. No. 67-ranked Heimen improved to 17-3 at No. 3 with a 6-3, 6-3 win. But the Ichabods won the next two matches, including No. 27-ranked Jung's upset of No. 9
Nadja Meier – 5-7, 6-2, and 6-4. That snapped Meier's 28-match winning streak. However, No. 4-ranked Hrda clinched the match as she avenged a loss to No. 2-ranked Smagina earlier in the season with a 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3 victory. Smagina had her 12-match win streak snapped.
NOTE: Flagler defeated Washburn 4-3 on March 19 at the Flagler Tennis Center.
#5 Flagler 4, #24 Washburn 2
5/13/23 at Orlando, Fla. (USTA National Campus)
Singles competition
1. #4
Luisa Hrda (FLG) def. #2 Smagina,Sonia (WU-W) 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-3
2. #27 Jung,Maja (WU-W) def. #9
Nadja Meier (FLG) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
3. #67
Dana Heimen (FLG) def. Curry,Casie (WU-W) 6-3, 6-3
4. Torres,Marta (WU-W) def.
Eryka Kruk (FLG) 6-4, 6-2
5.
Laura Jipescu (FLG) vs. Martensson,Isabella (WU-W) 6-7 (1-7), 6-2, 5-4, unfinished
6.
Charlotta Buss (FLG) def. Pensavalle,Issabella (WU-W) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #18
Luisa Hrda/
Dana Heimen (FLG) def. #8 Smagina,Sonia/Jung,Maja (WU-W) 7-6 (7-2)
2.
Laura Jipescu/Addison S. Breunich (FLG) def. Martensson,Isabella/Pensavalle,Issabella (WU-W) 6-4
3. Torres,Marta/Curry,Casie (WU-W) def. Flo. Massardo Brain/
Nadja Meier (FLG) 6-4
Match Notes
Washburn 18-7; National ranking #24
Flagler 22-4; National ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,3,4,2,1)
NCAA Division II National Tournament - Quarterfinal
#12 Washburn vs. #4 Flagler
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