The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
William & Mary
No. 24 Women's Tennis tops William & Mary, 4-2 in NCAA First Round
05.13.2016 | Women's Tennis
Longhorns take on No. 9 national seed Duke in the second round on Saturday.
DURHAM, N.C. – No. 24 Texas (15-8) won two of three doubles matches to claim the doubles point and added three singles wins in a 4-2 victory over No. 38 William & Mary (18-7) Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Championships.
Texas advances to the tournament's second round (round of 32) and will take on No. 9 national seed Duke on Saturday at noon ET (11 a.m. CT). The Longhorns and Blue Devils met earlier this season in Durham, and Duke edged Texas by a 4-3 count.
"First off, I give a ton of credit to the coaches and players from William & Mary," said first-year Texas head coach Howard Joffe. "They had a superb season and competed with great skill, tenacity and all class. I was very pleased with our fight and composure, considering four of our seven players have never played in the NCAA tournament."
William & Mary opened the match with a win at the second doubles position, but Texas responded with wins at the third and first positions to claim the doubles point and a 1-0 match lead.
UT's doubles tandem of freshmen Katie Poluta and Daniella Roldan, who were playing their second match together all season, posted a 6-2 win over the Tribe's Julia Casselbury and Olivia Thaler at third doubles. UT's 16th-ranked tandem of senior Breaunna Addison and sophomore Dani Wagland sealed the doubles point by way of a 6-3 win over Marie Faure and Lauren Goodman at first doubles.
The Tribe evened the match at one with a win at fifth singles, but Texas reclaimed the lead for the duration of the contest when All-Big 12 junior Neda Koprcina posted a 6-1, 7-5 win over Faure at second singles.
Wagland took control early on against William & Mary's Goodman and notched a 6-2 6-2 win at third singles to give Texas a 3-1 lead. The Tribe added another win at sixth singles, but Texas locked up the team victory by way of Poluta's 6-2, 6-2 win over Casselbury at fourth singles. The remaining contest at first singles was suspended.
"The freshmen played great doubles, and the highlight of our singles play was (Dani) Wagland's emphatic win at No. 3 singles," Joffe added. "Our ladies are excited about the prospect of playing Duke and the opportunity to advance to the (NCAA Championships) finals site.
NCAA Championships First Round (Round of 64)
No. 24 Texas 4, No. 38 William & Mary 2
NCAA Championships First Round (Round of 64)
Doubles – Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
1 No. 16 Breaunna Addison/Dani Wagland (UT) def. Marie Faure/Lauren Goodman (W&M), 6-3
2 Maria Groener/Elizaveta Nemchinov (W&M) def. Neda Koprcina/Lana Groenvynck (UT), 6-1
3 Katie Poluta/Daniella Roldan (UT) def. Julia Casselbury/Olivia Thaler (W&M), 6-2
Singles – Order of Finish 5, 2, 3, 6, 4
1 No. 10 Breaunna Addison (UT) vs. No. 99 Elizaveta Nemchinov (W&M), 4-6, 5-5, susp.
2 No. 122 Neda Koprcina (UT) def. Marie Faure (W&M), 6-1, 7-5
3 Dani Wagland (UT) def. Lauren Goodman (W&M), 6-2, 6-2
4 Katie Poluta (UT) def. Julia Casselbury (W&M), 6-2, 6-2
5 Olivia Thaler (W&M) def. Daniella Roldan (UT), 6-4, 6-2
6 Maria Groener (W&M) def. Lana Groenvynck (UT), 6-3, 6-2
Players Mentioned
