WILMINGTON, Del. - Anna Morgillo's thrilling three-set victory at sixth singles in the final match of the day was the difference for the Thomas Jefferson University women's tennis team (8-4) as the second-seeded Rams narrowly defeated third-seeded USciences, 4-3, in the CACC semifinals on Friday afternoon.
Jefferson will battle top-seeded Wilmington (Del.) for the conference championship on Saturday, October 23 at 12 p.m. It is the Rams' first trip to the CACC final since 2008.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The two teams met earlier this week in the regular season finale with Jefferson earning a 5-2 victory. The Rams earned the doubles point in that match but USciences flipped the script on Friday, winning two of the three matches to take a 1-0 lead.
A retirement at second singles put Jefferson in a 2-0 hole. However, the Rams rallied back with victories by
Noelle Frenzel,
Nicole Hrbkova, and
Manni Zhang at first, fourth, and fifth singles respectively to go ahead 3-2.
The Devils staved off defeat with a triumph at third singles to even the match at three. That brought the championship appearance down to the final match still on the court, a sixth singles battle between
Anna Morgillo and Stephanie Mazurek. In the only match of the afternoon to go three sets, Morgillo fell behind after losing the opening set 6-2. However, she recovered to take the second frame, 6-3, then carried that momentum into the final set. Morgillo capped off a wild afternoon with a 6-3 win to send the Rams to the conference final.
DOUBLES RESULTS
1.
Noelle Frenzel/
Nicole Hrbkova (JEFFWTEN) def. Rosemary Esquivel/Charlotte Kordonowy (USCI-W) 6-1
2. Myra Anwar/Kirsten Wijnsema (USCI-W) def.
Ines Blanc/
Anna Morgillo (JEFFWTEN) 6-4
3. Stephanie Mazurek/Han Le (USCI-W) def.
Stanislava Norets/
Manni Zhang (JEFFWTEN) 6-4
SINGLES RESULTS
1.
Noelle Frenzel (JEFFWTEN) def. Kirsten Wijnsema (USCI-W) 6-1, 6-1
2. Charlotte Kordonowy (USCI-W) def.
Stanislava Norets (JEFFWTEN) 6-2, retired
3. Rosemary Esquivel (USCI-W) def.
Ines Blanc (JEFFWTEN) 6-3, 6-2
4.
Nicole Hrbkova (JEFFWTEN) def. Myka Williams (USCI-W) 6-1, 6-0
5.
Manni Zhang (JEFFWTEN) def. Myra Anwar (USCI-W) 6-2, 6-3
6.
Anna Morgillo (JEFFWTEN) def. Stephanie Mazurek (USCI-W) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
