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Squad makes statement with tournament sweep at Snyder

Hardenbergh tops talented Flight A field; Vierra makes successful debut with backdraw win in season opener

The Virginia women's tennis team successfully defended its turf this past weekend at the U.Va. Fall Invitational at the Snyder Tennis Center.

The Cavaliers walked away from the tournament with wins in two of three singles finals, as well as two of three doubles finals, beating opponents from Dartmouth, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Carolina, UNC Greensboro, William & Mary and N.C. State.

The tournament was organized into six flights: three singles flights and three doubles flights, with 16 players participating in each.

The flights were organized according to individual player rankings and collegiate playing history; in Flight A, more than half of the competitors were nationally ranked.

Despite her lack of such a seeding, Virginia sophomore Lindsey Hardenbergh took the singles title in Flight A.

"[Hardenbergh] definitely deserves a ranking," Virginia coach Mark Guilbeau said. "She hasn't received a ranking yet, but these results now will put her in that position."

By adding pace, making frequent trips to the net and implementing both down-the-line and cross-court cycles, Hardenbergh took two matches Friday then came from behind to bring down Marshall junior Michaela Kissell - ranked 36th in the country - 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 in Sunday's final.

"I think that the things that she's doing are making her a little bit more of an aggressive player, which as long as she chooses well, is very positive," Guilbeau said. "The bottom line is that this is a kid who works extremely hard and really cares about her tennis, and that should be what pays off the most."

Freshman Erin Vierra is another Cavalier whose hard work is beginning to pay off, as she topped N.C. State senior Berkeley Brock, ranked 83rd, 6-0, 6-3 in the Flight A backdraw.

"[Vierra] is showing some of the best results that any freshman has had here, so that's really encouraging," Guilbeau said. "She's now had four ranked wins in two tournaments, so I think that her ranking is just waiting to be given to her pretty soon."

Hardenbergh and Vierra teamed up for the doubles tournament, topping fellow Cavaliers freshman Maria Fuccillo and sophomore Emily Fraser, 8-2 in the Flight B doubles final.

Fraser, who only played doubles this weekend because of an injury, said playing her teammates added another degree of intensity to the match.

"[Hardenbergh and Vierra] are a great team," Fraser said. "I was a little more knowing of how good they were and more aware of what kind of games they have, You definitely have more motivation. We're always pushing each other in matches and practice, and we're always trying to keep it as competitive as possible."

Freshman Hana Tomljanovic and senior Jennifer Stevens also added to the Cavaliers' wins, defeating conference-rival N.C. State 8-2 to capture their second tournament title in two weeks.

Guilbeau said the Cavaliers performed beyond coaches' expectations during the doubles matches.

"You don't hear this too often from coaches, but we could not have expected really it to even be to the level it was," Guilbeau said. "They went beyond themselves and really executed, implemented very well."

The U.Va. Invitational also offered the Cavaliers an opportunity to familiarize themselves with opponents they could face later in the spring season.

"N.C. State is much-improved," Guilbeau said. "They've added a couple players that are going to help them a ton. The conference, we know, is extremely tough and we're looking forward to that; hopefully we can inch our way up a little more."

In the meantime, Guilbeau said he is impressed with what he has seen from his team this early in the year.

"This team is just so on top of everything," Guilbeau said. "Being organized for their matches, making sure they were hydrating, getting nutrition, all the things that usually a coach has to worry about they were tending to. So it's becoming much more about tennis for us as a staff and I think that's when we'll do our best work for the kids that way"

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