DePaul University Athletics
Sunday, April 25
Cayce, S.C.
10:30 A.M. CT
DePaul University
4
vs
1
Villanova
Women's Tennis Advances to BIG EAST Title Match
4/25/2021 1:01:00 PM | WOMEN'S TENNIS
Kuzmenkova clinches 4-1 BIG EAST Semifinal win over Villanova on Sunday
CAYCE, S.C. – No. 2 seed DePaul has won four of the last six times the BIG EAST Women's Tennis Championship was held.
Why not make it five of seven?
That became a distinct possibility on Sunday when the Blue Demons eliminated No. 3 Villanova from the proceedings with a 4-1 victory in the BIG EAST Semifinals.
It sets up a tantalizing title rematch with No. 1 Xavier which defeated No. 4 St. John's 4-1. First serve on Monday is at 8 a.m. and you can catch the showdown on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
The last time DePaul (11-4) and Xavier (16-3) met in a championship setting, it was a pre-pandemic 2019 and Alina Kuzmenkova overcame a 3-0 deficit in the third set of the final singles match for a 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 triumph and a 4-3 Blue Demon BIG EAST title.
Kuzmenkova seems to rise up on the BIG EAST's biggest stage at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center. On Sunday, the Blue Demon senior scored the winning point with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Claudia Althans at No. 2 singles.
Coach Marisa Arce's team won the critical doubles point on Saturday before rain suspended play. Villanova (7-4) drew even in the team score at 1-1 Sunday after winning at No. 1 singles.
Back came the Blue Demons to win the next three singles matches. Marija Jovicic ignited the run with a 6-1, 6-4 decision over Caitlin Fisher at No. 5. Maddie Yergler followed suit with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Bella Steffen at No. 6.
Then came the Kuzmenkova clincher.
"It's a great feeling to be playing for a BIG EAST title tomorrow," Arce said. "We were definitely challenged and did a good job getting it done for the most part in two sets. That will help us be a little more rested for tomorrow.
"They feel like they're at home having been to the title match in recent years. They're staying in the same hotel and playing on the same courts. All the memories are flooding back for five of the six singles players who won it two years ago."
DePaul 4, Villanova 1
April 25, 2021
Cayce, S.C.
Singles
1. Annalise Klopfer (VU) def. Aspasia Avgeri (DPU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Alina Kuzmenkova (DPU) def. Claudia Althans (VU) 6-2, 6-4
3. Lenka Antonijevic (DPU) vs. Lexi DeNucci (VU) 6-0, 1-6, 1-2, unfinished
4. Yuliya Kizelbasheva (DPU) vs. Emily Strande (VU) 3-6, 6-3, unfinished
5. Marija Jovicic (DPU) def. Caitlin Fisher (VU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Maddie Yergler (DPU) def. Bella Steffen (VU) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
1. Lenka Antonijevic/Alina Kuzmenkova (DPU) def. Annalise Klopfer/Lexi DeNucci (VU) 6-0
2. Marija Jovicic/Yuliya Kizelbasheva (DPU) vs. Claudia Althans/Emily Strande (VU) 4-3, unfinished
3. Aspasia Avgeri/Maddie Yergler (DPU) def. Sabina Grigorian/Rose Kenny (VU) 6-2
Why not make it five of seven?
That became a distinct possibility on Sunday when the Blue Demons eliminated No. 3 Villanova from the proceedings with a 4-1 victory in the BIG EAST Semifinals.
It sets up a tantalizing title rematch with No. 1 Xavier which defeated No. 4 St. John's 4-1. First serve on Monday is at 8 a.m. and you can catch the showdown on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
The last time DePaul (11-4) and Xavier (16-3) met in a championship setting, it was a pre-pandemic 2019 and Alina Kuzmenkova overcame a 3-0 deficit in the third set of the final singles match for a 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 triumph and a 4-3 Blue Demon BIG EAST title.
Kuzmenkova seems to rise up on the BIG EAST's biggest stage at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center. On Sunday, the Blue Demon senior scored the winning point with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Claudia Althans at No. 2 singles.
Coach Marisa Arce's team won the critical doubles point on Saturday before rain suspended play. Villanova (7-4) drew even in the team score at 1-1 Sunday after winning at No. 1 singles.
Back came the Blue Demons to win the next three singles matches. Marija Jovicic ignited the run with a 6-1, 6-4 decision over Caitlin Fisher at No. 5. Maddie Yergler followed suit with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Bella Steffen at No. 6.
Then came the Kuzmenkova clincher.
"It's a great feeling to be playing for a BIG EAST title tomorrow," Arce said. "We were definitely challenged and did a good job getting it done for the most part in two sets. That will help us be a little more rested for tomorrow.
"They feel like they're at home having been to the title match in recent years. They're staying in the same hotel and playing on the same courts. All the memories are flooding back for five of the six singles players who won it two years ago."
DePaul 4, Villanova 1
April 25, 2021
Cayce, S.C.
Singles
1. Annalise Klopfer (VU) def. Aspasia Avgeri (DPU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Alina Kuzmenkova (DPU) def. Claudia Althans (VU) 6-2, 6-4
3. Lenka Antonijevic (DPU) vs. Lexi DeNucci (VU) 6-0, 1-6, 1-2, unfinished
4. Yuliya Kizelbasheva (DPU) vs. Emily Strande (VU) 3-6, 6-3, unfinished
5. Marija Jovicic (DPU) def. Caitlin Fisher (VU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Maddie Yergler (DPU) def. Bella Steffen (VU) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
1. Lenka Antonijevic/Alina Kuzmenkova (DPU) def. Annalise Klopfer/Lexi DeNucci (VU) 6-0
2. Marija Jovicic/Yuliya Kizelbasheva (DPU) vs. Claudia Althans/Emily Strande (VU) 4-3, unfinished
3. Aspasia Avgeri/Maddie Yergler (DPU) def. Sabina Grigorian/Rose Kenny (VU) 6-2
Players Mentioned
/ WOMEN'S TENNIS
/ WOMEN'S TENNIS
/ WOMEN'S TENNIS
/ WOMEN'S TENNIS
/ WOMEN'S TENNIS
/ WOMEN'S TENNIS
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