NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (March 5, 2024) – Hampton's women's tennis team defeated the UNC Greensboro Spartans by a score of 4-3 on Tuesday afternoon at the James River Country Club in Newport News, Va.

This was the first time the teams had ever played each other and the Lady Pirates best start since the 2016-17 season which began 8-2. The Lady Pirates won two doubles matches and three singles matches.

Doubles

In the first doubles match, Mio Kozaki and Diana Starodubtseva defeated Sydney Bly and Raegan Mitchell 7-5. Juliana Craft and Ella Olexa beat Lucia Jorrin Fernandez and Masa Mitic 7-6 (11-9) in the second matchup. Meiri Okuwaki and Sofia Sokolova clinched the doubles point as the third dual by taking down Luna Urso and Arina Babkova (6-2). Okuwaki and Sokolova are now 3-0 as doubles partners.

Singles

Babkova beat Kozaki (6-4, 7-5) and Starodubtseva defeated Craft (6-3, 6-4) in the first two singles matches of the afternoon. Okuwaki fell against Olivia Gallagher 6-3, 6-2. Sokolova took down Bly in a three-set battle 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. Jorrin Fernadez lost in a tough three-setter to Mitchell 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Mitic won the clinching point for the Lady Pirates with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Olexa. Sokolova and Mitic both earned their fourth singles win of the season.

Results

Doubles

Kozaki / Starodubtseva (HU) d. Bly / Mitchell (UNCG) 7-5
Craft / Olexa (UNCG) d. Mitic / Jorrin Fernandez (HU) 7-6 (11-9)
Sokolova / Okuwaki (HU) d. Urso / Babkova (UNCG) 6-2

Singles

Babkova (UNCG) d. Kozaki (HU) 6-4, 7-5
Starodubtseva (HU) d. Craft (UNCG) 6-3, 6-4
Gallagher (UNCG) d. Okuwaki (HU) 6-3, 6-2
Sokolova (HU) d. Bly (UNCG) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
Mitchell (UNCG) d. Jorrin Fernandez (HU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3  
Mitic (HU) d. Olexa (UNCG) 7-5, 6-3

Up Next

The Lady Pirates will take a spring break trip down to Orlando, Fla. to compete against FDU (March 11), Marist and Bryant on the 12th, and Marquette on the 14th.