ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - The University of Chicago women's tennis team kicked off the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship by quickly dispatching Washington University- St. Louis by a 5-0 margin on Thursday morning.
The Maroons (13-4) have now beaten the rival Bears (11-11) in nine-straight meetings.
UChicago came into the eight-team conference tournament as the No. 3 seed, while WashU was the No. 6 seed. This year's UAA tourney also unveiled an updated format, with the team matches playing to decision (first team to win five out of nine scheduled matches).
The Maroons put themselves way out in front thanks to a 3-0 doubles sweep by scores of 8-5, 8-5, 8-6.
Only needing two singles wins to clinch, UChicago continued its roll by capturing five first sets. First-year Nicole Semenov was first off the courts, winning 6-1, 6-1 at the fifth position. Fellow first-year Lauren Park then closed out the morning with a clean 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 3.
The Maroons have now advanced to the UAA semifinals for the 15th year in-a-row. They will next take on No. 2-seed Brandeis University on Friday afternoon.
UChicago 5, WashU 0
Singles
1. Marjorie Antohi (UC) vs. Ally Persky (WU) 6-2, 3-1, unfinished
2. Catherine Xu, (UC) vs. Divya Sharma (WU) 6-4, 1-2, unfinished
3. Lauren Park (UC) def. Brigitte Hodge (WU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Eugenia Lee (UC) vs. Ashley Lessen (WU) 6-0, 2-3, unfinished
5. Nicole Semenov (UC) def. Laurel Wanger (WU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Annika Pandey (UC) vs. Zoe Park (WU) 2-6, 1-0, unfinished
Doubles
1. Catherine Xu/Eugenia Lee (UC) def. Lisa Chionis/Ally Persky (WU) 8-5
2. Daryn Ellison/Marjorie Antohi (UC) def. Laurel Wanger/Ashley Lessen (WU) 8-5
3. Lauren Park/Nicole Semenov (UC) def. Stephanie Ren/Sanjna Tripathy (WU) 8-6
NEXT MATCH:
- Friday, April 26 @ 12:30 PM (ET) - UChicago vs. Brandeis (UAA semifinals - Altamonte Springs, Fla.)
