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LOS ANGELES – The 32^nd-ranked Virginia Tech women’s tennis team dropped a 4-0 decision to No. 1 Southern California in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Women’s Tennis Championships on Sunday. The Hokies finish the year at 17-10 overall and 7-7 in the ACC.

The 4-0 score was not indicative of how back-and-forth and emotional the match really was for most of the afternoon. USC earned the first victory of the day on court 3 in doubles to put them at an early advantage. Elena Cerezo-Codina and Francesca Fusinato had secured the lead against the 19^th-ranked duo of Giuliana Olmos and Zoe Scandalis on court 2, but No. 24 Zoe Katz/Sabrina Santamaria edged out Ilinca Stoica and Raluca Mita 8-5 on court 1 to give the Trojans the doubles point.

Singles play began with Sansitha Nandakumar falling to No. 78 Gabby Smith on court 5, followed by Katherine Butler dropping a two-set decision to No. 79 Meredith Xepoleas on court 6. Caroline Daxhelet battled but ultimately fell 6-4, 6-4 to No. 57 Madison Westby for the fourth and final point of the afternoon.

What the score didn’t reflect is that the Hokies were either tied or leading in each of the other three matches on the top courts before the match was clinched. No. 65 Stoica won her first set 6-3 and was locked at 2-2 in the second with No. 24 Santamaria on court 1. The match on court 2 between No. 14 Olmos and No. 51 Fusinato was headed into a third set (1-6, 6-2) before the fourth point. No. 100 Cerezo-Codina had just earned a thrilling 10-9 tiebreaker win in the first set on court 3 and was leading in the second against No. 38 Scandalis as well before the match came to a close.

The 2015 season matches the furthest that the Virginia Tech women’s tennis program has ever made it in the NCAA Championships in program history. The No. 32 team ranking is the highest that the Hokies have ever finished a regular season at as well. Several signature wins as a team and as individuals and multiple exciting finishes throughout the year made this season a memorable one for Tech. The team has no seniors graduating and will look to continue this momentum into next season.

Fusinato will be participating in the NCAA Singles Championships in Waco, Texas beginning May 20^th, while Stoica has been selected as an alternate.

Doubles

(1) #24 Katz/Santamaria (USC) def. Mita/Stoica (VT) – 8-5

(2) #19 Olmos/Scandalis (USC) vs. Codina/Fusinato (VT) – 5-6 susp.

(3) Smith/Westby (USC) def. Daxhelet/Willford (VT) – 8-1

Order of Finish: 3, 1

Singles

(1) #24 Sabrina Santamaria (USC) vs. Ilinca Stoica (VT) – 3-6, 2-2 susp.

(2) #14 Giuliana Olmos (USC) vs. Francesca Fusinato (VT) –6-1, 2-6, 0-0 susp.

(3) #38 Zoë Scandalis (USC) vs. Elena Cerezo-Codina (VT) – 6-7, 1-0 susp.

(4) #57 Madison Westby (USC) def. Caroline Daxhelet (VT) – 6-4, 6-4

(5) #78 Gabby Smith (USC) def. Sansitha Nandakumar (VT) – 6-0, 6-1

(6) #79 Meredith Xepoleas (USC) def. Katherine Butler (VT) – 6-1, 6-1

Order of Finish: 5, 6, 4*

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