Women's Tennis 10/17/2014 5:00:00 PM

RADFORD RECORDS TWO WINS ON OPENING DAY OF ITA ATLANTIC REGIONAL

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RESULTS

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Radford women's tennis team secured a pair of wins Friday as the ITA Atlantic Regional got underway at Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center on the campus of Virginia Tech.

Senior Taylor Newman earned a straight-set victory over Spencer Caravaggio of Duquesne in the Highlanders' first singles match of the day. It was a back-and-forth opening stanza, but Newman eventually broke her opponent late to prevail, 7-5. Newman carried that momentum into her second set where she cruised to a 6-3 decision.

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Taylor Newman takes the opening set against Duquesne's Spencer Caravaggio, 7-5, in her singles match of the qualifying draw #RUWT
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With the win, Newman advanced to the next stage of the qualifying draw where she faced Molly Wickman of Penn State. Newman was unable to find a rhythm in dropping a 6-3, 6-4 tilt.

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#RUWT is all smiles after Taylor Newman's 7-5, 6-3 victory. She is one win away from advancing to the main draw.
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Also attempting to qualify for the singles main draw was Gemma Valls. The Spaniard was pitted against Temple's hard-hitting Monet Willis. Valls jumped all over her opponent in the first frame, seizing a 6-1 win.

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Gemma Valls doesn't drop a game in her 6-0 decision in the opening set against Monet Willis of Temple #RUWT
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However, Willis settled in and prevailed in the final two sets (6-3, 6-4) to knock Valls out of the bracket.

In doubles, Grace Sarver and Meg Napolitano were dominant in their 8-4 triumph over Delaware's Danea Jonjic and Arielle Shuren. The RU duo raced out to a 5-0 advantage and weathered the Blue Hens' rally in the middle portion of the match to advance. For winning, Sarver and Napolitano get a date with Virginia Tech's Francesca Fusinato and Kelly Williford at 9 a.m. Saturday. Fusinato and Williford are seeded seventh in the main draw.

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Grace Sarver and Meg Napolitano win their match against Delaware #RUWT
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Natalie Sayer will also be in action Saturday. She will represent the Highlanders in the singles main draw when the freshman collides with Maryland's Welma Luus at 2 p.m.

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Natalie Sayer and Gemma Valls are on the court now for #RUWT in the doubles main draw
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Live results will be provided by Virginia Tech throughout the tournament at this link.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Singles – Qualifying Draw (Friday)
Taylor Newman, Radford def. Spencer Caravaggio, Duquesne (7-5, 6-3)
Molly Wickman, Penn State def. Taylor Newman, Radford (6-3, 6-4)
Monet Willis, Temple def. Gemma Valls, Radford (1-6, 6-3, 6-4)

Singles – Main Draw (Saturday)
Natalie Sayer, Radford vs. Welma Luus, Maryland (2 p.m.)

Doubles – Main Draw (Friday)
Grace Sarver / Meg Napolitano, Radford def. Danea Jonjic / Arielle Shuren, Delaware (8-4)
Grace Egger / Teodora Radosavljevic, George Washington def. Natalie Sayer / Gemma Valls, Radford (8-4)

Doubles – Main Draw (Saturday)
Grace Sarver / Meg Napolitano, Radford vs. Francesca Fusinato / Kelly Williford, Virginia Tech (9 a.m.)

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Players Mentioned

Meg Napolitano: 5' 9"; Senior

Taylor Newman: 5' 2"; Senior

Grace Sarver: 5' 2"; Junior

Gemma Valls: 5' 4"; Senior

Natalie Sayer: 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Meg Napolitano
: 5' 9"; Senior

Taylor Newman
: 5' 2"; Senior

Grace Sarver
: 5' 2"; Junior

Gemma Valls
: 5' 4"; Senior

Natalie Sayer
: 5' 8"; Freshman