Normally, a Virginia team would not be satisfied after being shutout by an ACC rival. This proved to be the case, however, for the Cavaliers last weekend.
The ACC's No. 5 seed Virginia (15-9) fell to No. 1 seed Duke, 4-0, in the ACC semifinals after the Cavaliers dealt a 4-3 quarterfinal defeat to No. 4 seed Wake Forest. Despite losing so decisively, the Cavaliers were pleased with the overall result.
"Duke is the hardest team in the ACC," freshman Kristen James said. "We went out there to play hard and have a better showing, and we did just that. We were satisfied with our play."
Virginia kept the match fairly close but was unable to grab even a single set from Duke -- the No. 5 ranked team in the country.
Virginia senior Henriette Williams dropped the No. 1 match to Kelly McCain 6-2, 6-2. The Cavaliers also lost the No. 4 and 5 singles matches, with freshman Lori Stern surrendering a 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Julie deRoo and sophomore Marta Bechliwanis falling to Katie Blaszak 6-4, 6-4.
In the previous day's quarterfinal match, the Cavaliers were able to get revenge on a Georgia Tech squad that handed them a 5-2 loss in Charlottesville March 28. Both Stern and Williams were defeated in the first match between the two squads but gained victories this time around. Williams defeated Catherine Gunn 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to win at No. 1, while Stern prevailed against Mysti Morris in the No. 4 match, 6-2, 6-1.
"We were really pumped for this match," Stern said. "Everyone really didn't do their part the first time we played them, but we were able to step it up this weekend."
Virginia jumped ahead early on against Georgia Tech. The Cavaliers won the doubles point with victories from the No. 1 and 2 teams of Williams and fellow senior Jennifer Tuchband and James and Stern. James also won at No. 3 singles, beating Kelly Anderson 6-4, 1-6, 6-2.
The NCAA tournament field will be selected April 30. With two victories over top-ten teams this season, then-No. 14 Kentucky and a semifinal appearance in the ACC tournament, the Cavaliers are expected to receive a bid.
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