ELON, N.C. (April 26, 2024) – The Hampton women's tennis team fell against the No. 1 ranked Delaware Blue Hens in the quarterfinals of the CAA Championship.

Despite falling 4-0, the Lady Pirates fought hard in the matchup. In doubles, Sofia Sokolova and Meiri Okuwaki were leading 5-4 against Slade Coetzee and Paulina Jurkowska before the match went unfinished. Mio Kozaki and Diana Starodubtseva fell against Eliza Askarova and Alex Staiculescu 6-4.

In the singles matchups ups, Sokolova took a set against Maryia Hrynashka. Kozaki lost the first set against Slade Coetzee, but fended off multiple match points in the second that forced a tiebreak (the match went unfinished). Okuwaki and Masa Mitic battled in sets that ended 7-5. Lucia Jorrin Fernandez was defeated by Navya Vadlamudi in two sets that each ended close (6-4, 6-4).

The full results are listed below.

Season Recap

The Lady Pirates finished the season with a 14-9 record, the best since the 2016-17 season. Hampton earned big wins over North Carolina Central (4-3), UNC Greensboro (4-3), George Mason (4-0), Towson (4-3), and their first ever win in the CAA Championship in the first round over Hofstra (4-2).

Okuwaki led the team with a singles record of 13-5, including an 8-0 record in the fourth position. She was followed by Mitic at 12-7 and Starodubtseva at 11-10. Jorrin Fernandez (10-10), Kozaki (10-10), and Sokolova (10-11) each ended with 10 wins.

Okuwaki and Sokolova had a great year in doubles play, racking up a 14-3 record.  

Singles

1. Slade Coetzee (DEL) vs. Mio Kozaki (HU) 6-1, 6-6, unfinished
2. Eliza Askarova (DEL) def. Diana Starodubtseva (HU) 6-1, 6-0
3. Maryia Hrynashka (DEL) def. Sofia Sokolova (HU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-0
4. Alex Staiculescu (DEL) vs. Meiri Okuwaki (HU) 7-5, 5-2, unfinished
5. Navya Vadlamudi (DEL) def. L. Jorrin Fernandez (HU) 6-4, 6-4
6. Julieta Honrubia (DEL) vs. Masa Mitic (HU) 7-5, 5-4, unfinished

Doubles

1. Eliza Askarova/Alex Staiculescu (DEL) def. Mio Kozaki/Diana Starodubtseva (HU) 6-4
2. Julieta Honrubia/Maryia Hrynashka (DEL) def. Masa Mitic/L. Jorrin Fernandez (HU) 6-2
3. Slade Coetzee/Paulina Jurkowska (DEL) vs. Meiri Okuwaki/Sofia Sokolova (HU) 4-5, unfinished