Tech poses strong start at the Louisville Tennis Classic, Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic

The doubles pairing of Caroline Daxhelet and Elena Cerezo-Codina advanced to the semifinals in Florida

November 4, 2016

BLACKSBURG – Highlighted by another stellar doubles performance from the junior duo of Elena Cerezo-Codina and Caroline Daxhelet, the Virginia Tech women’s tennis team posed a strong start on the first day of the 2016 Louisville Tennis Classic and the Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic on Friday.

Three Hokies went undefeated in singles action, advancing to the quarterfinal round at the Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic, held in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. The doubles pairing of Cerezo-Codina and Daxhelet also advanced to the semifinals in the doubles bracket.

In doubles action, Cerezo-Codina and Daxhelet captured an 8-5 decision over Princeton’s Katrine Steffensen and Caroline Vives Vietri in the first round of the tournament. The duo then picked up an 8-4 victory over East Tennessee State’s Marina Espana and Ioanna Markesini, advancing to the semifinals on Saturday. The pairing will face Florida’s Anna Danillina and Spencer Liang at 10 a.m.

Cerezo-Codina, a native of Almeria, Spain, also bested Princeton’s Katrine Steffensen in a three-set battle. She dropped the first set, but bounced back in the final two sets, claiming her first round match by a score of 2-6, 6-1, 6-2. Cerezo-Codina then cruised past SDSU’s Taylor Lenderman, only giving up one game in the first set, recording a 6-1, 6-0 victory in the round of 16. Cerezo-Codina will compete against ETSU’s Espana in the quarterfinals on Saturday, at 10 a.m.

“I am so happy,” said Cerezo-Codina. “I couldn’t ask for a better gift on my birthday than winning all my matches today. I played good tennis, and I put up a good fight. I am feeling pretty comfortable heading into tomorrow’s matchup, and I just want to focus on getting better.”

Daxhelet tallied a 6-1, 6-0 decision over Clemson’s Sydney Riley in the first round of the tournament. She then defeated Florida’s Spencer Liang in a three set battle, advancing to the quarterfinals with a final score of 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. Daxhelet will face Ohio State’s Olivia Sneed in a quarterfinal round matchup on Saturday, at 10 a.m.

Freshman Natalie Novtona also picked up two straight set victories on Friday, defeating FGCU’s Bridget Forster (6-0, 6-0) and Notre Dame’s Monica Robinson (6-4, 6-1). Novotna also will square off against Ohio State’s Miho Kowase in a quarterfinal matchup on Saturday, at 10 a.m.

Of note, senior Francesca Fusinato dropped a three-set battle in the first round, falling to Clemson’s Fernanda Navarro by a score of 3-6, 6-0, 6-4. The Feltre Belluno, Italy, native will have a bye in the first round of the consolation bracket.

Click HERE for a full singles bracket, and HERE for a full doubles bracket at the 2016 Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic.

Additionally, selected Hokies competed at the Louisville Tennis Classic, held at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center, in Louisville, Kentucky.

In doubles play, senior Sansitha Nandaukumar and Nancy Ghanem paired up to defeated Miami’s Andreea Badileanu and Anzhelika Shapovalova by a score of 6-2. Junior Katherine Butler and Luisa Uscocovich also picked up a 6-4 victory over Miami’s Nelli Ponomareva and Anastasiia Vasukhina.

In singles action, freshman Fallon Delp recorded Tech’s only singles victory of the day at the Louisville Tennis Classic, besting Louisville’s Anna Collins in straight sets to win by a score of 6-1, 6-1.

Additional information regarding each tournament can be found below. A recap will be available following each day of competition at HokieSports.com.

Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic:

Doubles Competition (First Round)

Cerezo-Codina/Daxhelet (Tech) def. Katrine Steffensen/Caroline Vives Vietri (Princeton), 8-5

Hailey M. Grillo/Olga Martinez (USF) def. Fusinato/Novotna (Tech), 8-5

Doubles Competition (Quarterfinals)

Cerezo-Codina/Daxhelet (Tech) def. Marina Espana/Ioanna Markesini (ETSU), 8-4

Singles Competition (First Round)

Natalie Novotna (Tech) def. Bridget L. Forster (FGCU), 6-0, 6-0

Elena Cerezo-Codina (Tech) def. Katrine Steffensen (Princeton), 2-6, 6-1, 6-2

Caroline Daxhelet (Tech) def. Sydney A. Riley (Clemson), 6-1, 6-0

Fernanda Navarro (Clemson) def. Francesca Fusinato (Tech), 3-6, 6-0, 6-4

Singles Competition (Round of 16)

Natalie Novotna (Tech) def. Monica Robinson (Notre Dame), 6-4, 6-1

Elena Cerezo-Codina (Tech) def. Taylor Lederman (SDSU), 6-1, 6-0

Caroline Daxhelet (Tech) def. Spencer Liang (Florida), 4-6, 6-1, 6-1

Louisville Tennis Classic Results:

Virginia Tech vs. Louisville (Doubles)

Abbie Pahz/Mariana Humberg (UL) def. Butler/Collins (Tech), 6-3

Elle Stokes/Sena Suswam (UL) def. Baron/Uscocivich (Tech), 6-1

Ariana Rodriguez/Jessie Paul (UL) def. Pence/Nandakumar (Tech), 6-4

Virginia Tech vs. Miami (Doubles)

Nandakumar/Ghanem (Tech) def. Andreea Badileanu/Anzhelika Shapovalova (MIA), 6-2

Butler/Uscocovich (Tech) def. Nelli Ponomareva/Anastasiia Vasukhina (MIA), 6-4

Hannah Shteyn/Emily Struble (MIA) def. Baron/Collins (Tech), 7-5

Virginia Tech vs. Miami (Singles)

Anzhelika Shapovalova (MIA) def. Sansitha Nandakumar (Tech), 6-3, 6-1

Hannah Shteyn (MIA) def. Sarah Baron (Tech), 6-1, 6-1

Andreea Badileanu (MIA) def. Nancy Ghanem (Tech), 6-2, 6-3

Nelli Ponomareva (MIA) def. Katherine Butler (Tech), 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)

Emily Struble (MIA) def. McKenzie Collins (Tech), 6-4, 6-4

Erin Rodriguez (MIA) def. Emily Pence (Tech), 6-1, 4-6, 6-1

Fallon Delp (Tech) def. Anna Collins (UL) 6-1, 6-1

Anastasiia Vasiukhina (MIA) def. Sloan Barton (Tech) 6-0, 6-1

Louisville Tennis Classic Schedule:

Saturday, Nov. 5

Doubles: Tech vs. Memphis at 9 a.m.

Doubles: Tech vs. Louisville at 10 a.m.

Singles: Tech vs. Louisville at 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 6

Singles: Tech vs. Memphis at 9 a.m.

For updates on Virginia Tech women's tennis, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_WTennis