No. 4 Lynn Eliminate No. 21 Tampa in SSC Quarterfinals

Bradenton, Fla. - The No. 21 University of Tampa tennis team traveled to IMG Academy, Thursday afternoon to face off against rival, No. 4 Lynn University in the SSC Quarterfinals. 

Final: Lynn University Fightning Knights 4 , No. 21 University of Tampa Spartans 3

Location: IMG Tennis Complex | Bradenton, Fla.

Records: Lynn University Fighting Knights (18-3 , 7-2 SSC) , No. 21 University of Tampa Spartans (10-8 , 4-5 SSC)

How it Happened: 

The match started off with No. 11 doubles duo, Amaro/Sanchez dueling against, Djoubri/Schieroni (LU) on the main court. With one more game to clinch the match, Lynn's Djoubri/Schieroni obtained the point/match to give their team an early lead. However, Wilberg/Williams closed out, Podbiol/Younes in yet another nail-biter (6-4) to even the score. Any teams ball game, leaving Court 3 in the hands of Topalovic/Presley who would come through for the Spartans, taking doubles and earning the very first point of the match. Second time this season, the Spartans defeated the Fighting Knights in doubles.

The match transitions to singles where both teams battled to earn their victories. Lynn evened the score at one, with Giorgia Pigato's victory over grad student, Aleks Topalovic. Then, the Spartans came right back with No, 21 Raquel Amaro defeating No. 10 Salma Djoubri on the main court to go up one. Lynn would put the pressure on Tampa after they won back-to-back matches. On Court 2, it was No. 13 Greta Schieroni over Victory Sanchez in straight sets, and then Dolores Molina defeating freshman, Rebecca Presley on Court 6. With Lynn only needing one more match to advance to the SSC Semifinals, Tampa's Savannah Williams (Court 3) & Anine Wilberg (Court 5) were determined to put a hault to this. Williams put a stop to No. 33 Kristin Younes out of Haifa, Israel to tie the score at three. With both teams yearning for a victory, Wilberg took  Lynn's Zofia Podbiol to a third set after winning the first. Wilberg & Podbiol reached five games at piece not letting one another win by two games. However, the sixth & seventh games were awarded to Podbiol, who Wilberg did not make it easy for. No. 4 Lynn advance to the SSC Semifinals after an outstanding performance from both respective teams.

Singles Results:

1. No. 21 Raquel Amaro Veloso (UT) def. No. 10 Salma Djoubri (LU): 6-3, 6-2
2. No. 13 Greta Schieroni (LU) def. Victoria Sanchez (UT): 6-4, 6-2
3. Savannah Williams (UT) def. No. 33 Kristen Younes  (LU): 6-2, 5-3, WR   
4. Giorgia Pigato (LU) def. Aleks Topalovic (UT): 6-2, 6-1
5. Zofia Podbiol (LU) def. Anine Wilberg (UT): 6-4, 6-2, 7-5
6. Dolores Molina (LU) def. Rebecca Presley (UT): 7-6 (7/3), 6-2

Doubles Results:

1. Djoubri/Schieroni (LU) def. No. 11 Amaro/Sanchez (UT): 6-4
2. Wilberg/Williams (UT) def. Podbiol/Younes: 6-4
3. Topalovic/Presley (UT) def. Cibakova/Pigato: 7-5

Outside the Box: 

• No. 4 Lynn win their eighth-straight match
• No. 21 Spartans have lost five-consecutive matches.
• Wilberg/Williams win their seventh-straight match.

UP NEXT: Tampa will contend in the NCAA Division II South Regional Tournament Monday, May 1st. Location & Opponent are TBA.