No. 6 Women’s Tennis Dominates First Two Rounds of NCAA Tournament – The Cavalier Daily

Virginia Women’s Tennis Dominates NCAA Tournament First Two Rounds

The No. 6 Virginia women’s tennis team showcased their dominance over the weekend as they hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Cavaliers, despite being ranked sixth nationally, entered the tournament as the 5-seed and faced off against Long Island University and No. 41 Princeton. Virginia (24-4, 12-1 ACC) made quick work of both opponents, blanking the Sharks and the Tigers to advance to the Round of 16 for the fourth consecutive year.

In the first round against Long Island University, Virginia continued their unbeaten streak at home with a 4-0 victory. The Cavaliers started strong in doubles competition, with senior Hibah Shaikh and sophomore Annabelle Xu securing a decisive win. The momentum carried into singles play, with Virginia winning three matches in straight sets to secure the victory.

The Cavaliers faced a familiar opponent in the second round, Princeton, whom they had defeated in the previous two years. Once again, Virginia dominated, winning the doubles point and sweeping all singles matches in straight sets. The win marked the team’s 20th consecutive home victory and set them up to host the Round of 16 for the second time in three years.

Coach Sara O’Leary praised her team’s focus and discipline throughout the weekend, emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure in the upcoming matches. Virginia will now face No. 31 Vanderbilt in the Round of 16, a team that recently upset No. 12 Ohio State. With home-court advantage on their side, the Cavaliers will look to extend their impressive home winning streak to 22 games and secure a spot in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The match is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. and will be live-streamed by Virginia Athletics.