GREENSBORO – The Elon University women’s tennis team triumphed over the University of Richmond Spiders at the Piedmont Indoor Center on Sunday afternoon. The match location was changed from the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center after unexpected rain this morning.

Despite the abrupt relocation, the Phoenix ground out a hard-fought victory over the Spiders, winning 4-0. The women’s match was played simultaneously at the facility with the Elon University men’s tennis team. Only four matches could be played at a time for both teams, so a clinch format was used, meaning the match was stopped when a team reached four points.

“They did a really good job adjusting as soon as we said this was the plan,” head coach Elizabeth Anderson said. “They went with it. They were locked in. So, I think it was good. I'm glad we were able to play today and to be able to get in a good match.”

Elon improved to 13-3 overall, and has now won eight straight matches, its longest streak since its nine consecutive victories in 2020. On the other side of the coin were the Spiders (4-12, 0-1) out of the Atlantic 10 Conference. Richmond has now lost seven straight and hasn’t won since mid-February.

The No. 2 doubles pairing of freshman Madison Cordisco and senior Julie Ball brought the energy early, taking down their opponent 6-3. Freshman Helen Sarikulaya and sophomore Miray Konar identically matched the first doubles victory to clinch the first point for the Phoenix. 

Senior Sibel Tanik won her fourth straight singles match, with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 score at the No. 1 spot. Tanik is 11-3 for singles during the 2023 campaign. Cordisco completed the penultimate victory in the most thrilling match of the day, tallying a 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles. Sarikulaya also won for the Phoenix 6-3, 6-4.

Over her last four matches, Cordisco had split victories and losses, 2-2. Despite a tough stretch entering today, she did not let it sway how she normally acts or leads on the court, even with a minor relocation a few hours prior to the scheduled start. Cordisco was incredibly enthusiastic and loud cheering on not only her teammates, but also herself.

“When we first got here, my teammates said we love the energy, we love being loud,” Cordisco said. “That kind of wore off on me. I love being loud, I love screaming, I love the environment and I love yelling.”

Ball, junior Lizette Reding, and graduate student Olivia Archer’s matches were all left unfinished because of the clinch format. With one more win, Archer will tie the all-time Elon singles win record.

The Phoenix will be back at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center this Wednesday hosting a Colonial Athletic Association opponent in the University of Delaware Blue Hens at 1 p.m.