The Elon University women’s tennis team won its third straight match and second against the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the span of a week April 17, as the Phoenix rolled to a 4-0 sweep of the Spartans to advance to the semifinals of the Southern Conference Women’s Tennis Championships in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Heading into the tournament, doubles play had been a point of emphasis for the Phoenix, and the team responded by dominating on courts No. 1 and 2 to jump out to an early 1-0 lead.
Senior Jordan Johnston and junior Barbora Lazarova rolled on court No. 1, where the duo shut out junior Kayla Gammie and senior Devon Sutherland, 8-0. Senior Frida Jansaker and junior Maria Camara Ruiz followed with an 8-2 win over senior Dilara Yurtkuran and freshman Yasmin Franco to clinch the point for the Phoenix.
Johnston earned Elon’s first singles point of the afternoon as well, picking up a 6-1, 6-3, win over Yurtkaran to make it 2-0 in favor of the Phoenix. Jansaker made it a 3-0 advantage after topping sophomore Soumeya Anane, 6-2, 6-2, leaving Elon just one point short of advancing.
On court No. 4, Lazarova battled UNCG’s Gammie and won the first set, 6-4. A slow start in the second set put Lazarova in a 4-5 hole, but the junior was able to storm back at win the next three games to complete the shutout for the Phoenix.
The remaining three singles matches went unfinished.
The Phoenix advances to the semifinals for the second consecutive year and improves its overall record to 13-8. Awaiting Elon in the next round is top-seeded Furman University. The Phoenix lost its only match against the Paladins this season, a 4-3 decision March 21. Elon’s semifinal match is set for 2 p.m. April 18 at the Champions Club in Chattanooga.