FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- With a 5-0 shutout against No. 3-seeded UC Santa Cruz (5-8) in the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinals, the #23-ranked Christopher Newport women's tennis team advanced to the program's seventh consecutive conference championship match. The Captains (8-7) will face top-seeded host University of Mary Washington in Sunday morning's title bout scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
Taking on the Banana Slugs for the first time in program history, the Christopher Newport women's tennis team shutout the conference foes, 5-0. A hard-fought doubles sweep was followed by quick wins at 1 and 2 singles as the Captains wrapped up the seventh postseason shutout in eight appearances in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament (formerly the CAC Tournament).
Leading the way for CNU were regionally-ranked
Raine Weis and
Tessa Trate, who paired for the win at No. 1 doubles and each secured singles wins to clinch the match for the Captains. Trate scored the winning point at No. 2 singles after Weis had pushed the Captains ahead, 4-0, with the win at No. 1.
Prior to those clinching wins, Christopher Newport surged out to a 3-0 lead by sweeping doubles. Trate and Weis won over Sara Beckman and Natalie Sprenger (8-4) on the top line;
Ana Clara Borga and
Kendra Womack earned the win against Daniela Christian and Julia Chairadia Azzi at No. 3 (8-5).
Rounding out the sweep, CNU outlasted UC Santa Cruz at No. 2 where
Megan Bauer and
Karina Crivtonencu paired up for the victory against Tanner Rowland and Ines Pelvang (8-7 (6)).
In singles play, the Captains raced out to a quick lead on the top four lines. Crivtonencu was leading at No. 4, 6-5, when the match ended and
Kiersten Chang had captured a first-set victory at No. 3, 6-4. Neither match would be completed though, as Weis and Trate took care of business on the top two lines.
Weis faced Sara Beckman at No. 1 and picked up a 6-2, 6-3 win against the Banana Slugs' top player. Trate downed Sprenger at No. 2 with a 6-3, 6-3 final to clinch the match.
Christopher Newport will return to action on Sunday, May 8 at 11:00 a.m. with the conference title on the line. The Captains will face Mary Washington looking to end the 17-year reign as conference champions.
