The ETSU’s Women’s Tennis Team headed up to the Hokie Fall Invitational this weekend. The field featured Virginia Tech, ETSU, Appalachian State, James Madison, Radford and Winthrop. Virginia Tech came in heavily favored with the home court advantage along with nationally ranked No. 73 Anat Elazari who ended up winning the Flight A over fellow Hokie J.J. Larson. In her route to winning Flight A Elazari defeated Junior Sandi Knight (6-2, 6-1) in the quarterfinals.
In Flight A ETSU entered three Lady Bucs, Juniors Sandi Knight and Sylwia Ziolkowska and Freshman Elena Volobueva. Knight and Ziolkowska both were able to win in their first rounds. Volobueva played hard against Lyndsey Free of cross conference rival Appalachian State but Free defeated Volobueva (6-4, 4-6, 6-1). Volobueva played very well in her consolation tournament getting eighth place. Knight was able to finish for sixth in the consolation tournament she played in winning one match and losing one. Ziolkowska lost in her consolation tournaments and finished eighth.
In the quarterfinals Knight and Ziolkowska both were defeated though, Knight playing against Elazari (6-1, 6-2), Ziolkowska was defeated by Ashley James of the Hokies (6-1, 7-6 (9)).
Jewel Aldea, Mariia Ilina and Gemma Halim were both in the Flight B of the tournament. Aleda fell in the first round to Gabriela Carvalho from Virginia Tech (6-1, 6-3). Ilina won her matches to advance to the semi-finals. Ilina advanced to the finals with a defeat over Caceres of Winthrop. Ilina played Long from Virginia Tech in very hard play but Long defeated Ilina (6-7(2), 6-4, 6-2). Aldea was defeated in her 11th place consolation tournament.
Halim won her first match 6-0,6-2, but in the quarterfinals Jessica Long of Virginia Tech defeated Halim (6-2, 6-1). In the consolidation tournament Halim won her first match but lost her game for fifth place against James from Virginia Tech.
Sherwood playing for the first time as a Lady Bucs represented the Bucs in Flight C. Sherwood defeated Lea Ackenbom in round one (6-0, 7-6, (4)). In the quarterfinals Sherwood defeated Jessica Nixon of Radford, (6-2, 6-0). In the semi finals Sherwood played against the Hokies’s Facchina. Facchina defeated Sherwood (6-2, 6-2). In Sherwood’s consolation tournament she defeated Slagel of Virginia Tech (6-2, 6-0). Sherwood finished in third place.
The Lady Bucs had their best success in doubles action. In Flight A Aldea and Halim defeated Moody and Blanton of Appalachian State, 8-5. Ilina and Ziolkowska also defeated their doubles opponents Milano and Noldin from Radford, 8-4, while Knight and Volobueva defeat James Madison’s Vieth and Vanderelst, 8-4. In semifinals action the Ilina and Ziolkowska played Lam and Larson of Virginia Tech while Knight and Volobueva played Caceras and Takahashi from Winthrop. Lam and Larson ended up defeating Ilina and Ziolkowska, 8-2. While Elazari and James also defeated Knight and Volobueva. Niether of the Lady Bucs played in their consolidation match against each other for third place.
Flight B was a joint team of ETSU and Winthrop. Sherwood and Moita defeated Bartok and Slagel of Virginia Tech. Sherwood and Moita played Ackenborn and Calzadilla of Virginia Tech in the Flight B semi-finals.
Sherwood and Moita defeated Ackenborn and Calzadilla, 8-2. This time Sherwood and Moita defeated Facchina and Holmes, 8-2, for the championship.

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