The No. 5 Virginia women’s tennis team made history at the 2025 ITA Division I National Women’s Team Indoor Championship over the weekend, reaching the semifinals for the first time in program history. However, the impressive run came to a crushing halt Monday against No. 1 Georgia, in a 4-0 loss.
Virginia was already facing challenges, playing without sophomore Elaine Chervinsky, its usual No. 1 singles and doubles player, forcing adjustments to the entire lineup. Despite battling through the opening rounds with resilient victories over No. 13 Tennessee and No. 8 North Carolina, the Cavaliers (8-2, 0-0 ACC) could not overcome the Bulldogs’ (6-1, 0-0 SEC) depth in the semifinals.
Virginia opened the tournament with a tight 4-2 victory over Tennessee, in which sophomore Blanca Pico Navarro saved three match points to clinch the match. In doubles, freshman Karolina Kozakova and senior Melodie Collard earned a 6-4 victory on the top court, while junior Meggie Navarro and graduate student Sara Ziodato won 6-3 on Court 3 to secure the doubles point.
In singles, Collard dominated in the second set on Court 5, winning 7-6 (1), 6-1 to give Virginia an edge, while freshman Isabelle Lacy delivered a strong 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win on Court 3. Pico Navarro’s dramatic win on Court 6 sealed the Cavaliers’ victory.
“I felt like all the way down the line, the girls just were so engaged in their match, so focused on what they needed to do,” Coach Sara O’Leary said after the match against Tennessee. “To see Karolina and Sarah just stay out there when they were down multiple match points and just be so courageous in those moments.”
In the quarterfinals against North Carolina, the Cavaliers dropped the doubles point but responded with crucial singles wins. Lacy dominated No. 20 senior Carson Tanguilig in straight sets, Collard battled back to win on Court 6, and Kozakova delivered a clutch victory on Court 4 after saving multiple match points.
With the match tied at 3-3, Ziodato completed a comeback victory on Court 2, winning a third-set tiebreaker to send Virginia to the semifinals.
Against top-seeded Georgia, Virginia faced its toughest challenge yet. Virginia last faced Georgia at the ITA Indoor Championship during the 2020 season, losing 4-2. The Bulldogs, featuring one of the deepest lineups in the country, quickly took control in doubles, earning a 6-2 win on Court 2 and a 6-3 victory on Court 1 to secure the opening point.
In singles, Virginia found itself on the defensive early, as Georgia’s depth overwhelmed the Cavaliers on multiple courts. The Bulldogs struck first with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 win on Court 5, followed by another quick victory on Court 6 to extend their lead to 3-0.
With their backs against the wall, the Cavaliers needed a comeback on the remaining courts, but Georgia refused to give them any openings. Ziodato fought hard on Court 2 but was unable to shift the momentum, falling in straight sets as Georgia clinched the match at 4-0.
Despite the lopsided score, Virginia still showed flashes of resilience. Lacy was the only Cavalier to take a set, battling against Georgia’s No. 3 player and proving that Virginia could compete at the highest level.
Meanwhile, Kozakova was locked in a tight second set when the match was clinched, showing promise against one of the country’s best teams. However, the absence of Chervinsky was evident, as Virginia lacked the firepower at the top of the lineup that could have potentially changed the dynamic of the match.
Virginia’s overall performance demonstrated the team’s depth and resilience, with several players stepping up in Chervinsky’s absence. Collard and Lacy delivered key victories, and Ziodato secured the biggest win of her career. The Cavaliers’ ability to rally in tight moments, particularly against North Carolina, highlighted their grit and determination.
The experience gained from facing such elite competition will be valuable for the rest of the season. The primary goal, O’Leary said after the match against Tennessee, is improving — step by step.
“I think our focus right now is just every moment and just really embracing every moment we're out there, every moment we're together,” O’Leary said.
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