No. 5 Virginia delivered a thrilling 4-3 win Saturday over No. 7 Duke after beating New Mexico Friday, capping the two-day ITA Kickoff Weekend and winning its region of the national qualifier. The Cavaliers (6-0, 0-0 ACC), with their victory at the Boar’s Head Sports Club in Charlottesville, punched their ticket to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, which will take place Feb. 7-10 in Evanston, Ill.
Virginia came out strong to start the tournament Friday, with a 4-0 victory over New Mexico. They wasted no time asserting their dominance in doubles. On Court 2, junior Annabelle Xu and freshman Martina Genis Salas delivered a flawless 6-0 win, setting the tone for the match. Despite being doubles partners for the first time this year, the duo has been on fire since the start of the season.
Meanwhile, seniors Elaine Chervinsky and Mélodie Collard displayed their experience and cohesion on the top court, cruising to a 6-1 victory to clinch the doubles point for Virginia.
“I felt like we came out in doubles, really strong, just very focused, very organized, great energy,” Coach Sara O’Leary said. “We played really well in doubles, but Duke’s a team that fights.
The Cavaliers continued to crush singles play. Genis Salas turned in a perfect performance on Court 3, overpowering her opponent 6-0, 6-0, to extend Virginia’s lead to 2-0.
On Court 1, Xu demonstrated her precision and control with a straight-sets victory, keeping the ball deep and converting important points with accuracy and aggression. Freshman Isabelle Lacy sealed the match on Court 4 with a decisive 6-2, 6-1 win, showcasing her poise under pressure.
The remaining singles matches stood unfinished as Virginia clinched the victory, advancing to the final in confident fashion. That set up a confrontation with Duke, a prospect O’Leary alluded to last week, after Virginia thumped Duquesne to open the season.
“These first few matches are just really, really important for us to compete and feel what it's like being out there to prepare us for some of those rival matches,” O’Leary said then. “We know those teams so well, and we're gonna have to be ready from the first ball struck.”
Virginia did exactly what O’Leary wanted. Playing in front of an energetic crowd of 262 fans against the Blue Devils (5-1) in the final, the Cavaliers showcased their depth in a closely contested battle against a familiar ACC rival. It was their second 4-3 triumph over Duke in the last three seasons — and it came with the pressure customary of these matches.
The doubles point once again proved to be a key factor for the Cavaliers, as they displayed dominance early. On Court 2, Xu and Genis Salas cruised to a 6-0 victory, setting the tone for the match. Seniors Elaine Chervinsky and Mélodie Collard clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win on the top court. The Cavaliers’ doubles success provided a crucial advantage heading into singles play.
In singles, each match delivered high-quality tennis and intense battles. On Court 1, Xu faced a challenging opponent in Duke freshman Irina Balus. Xu’s ability to keep the ball deep and capitalize on opportunities to finish points has been a hallmark of her game, but Balus’s aggressive play proved too much, as Xu fell 6-4, 6-1.
On Court 4, Sara Ziodato beat her opponent handily, 6-3, 6-0. Collard also emerged victorious, and fought for a crucial 6-2, 7-5 win against junior Katie Codd.
Duke senior Ellie Coleman and sophomore Eleana Yu secured points on Courts 5 and 3, against Genis Salas and Kozakova, respectively. Each Cavalier suffered from errors in their second set to drop their matches, leaving the score tied 3-3.
Chervinsky faced senior Emma Jackson on Court 2 in a match defined by its momentum swings. Chervinsky’s aggressive approach at the net allowed her to secure the first break of the match, but unforced errors on routine points gave Jackson the edge in the first set.
Jackson, with her powerful and aggressive style, committed several double faults, which Chervinsky capitalized on in the second set. The two were the last ones on court, battling it out for the title.
“[Chervinsky has] worked so hard and earned that opportunity to be the last player on the court, which is actually a really special feeling,” O’Leary said. “I had so much confidence in her, and I’m just really proud of her and really happy for her.”
With newfound focus and loads of support from the crowd at Boar’s Head, Chervinsky rallied to take the final two sets, 6-1, 6-3, clinching the match for Virginia and sealing its spot at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.
Virginia’s rise in the rankings from its preseason position at No. 9 to its current standing at No. 5 has been fueled by consistent and aggressive performances like these. As the Cavaliers prepare for the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, they will carry the confidence of an undefeated record and the momentum of a rising program. Before then, though, Virginia will face No. 8 Michigan at home Saturday.
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