Keiser women's tennis completed the fourth day of action at the ITA Cup on Sunday afternoon with just one singles match played.

Due to a withdrawal from UChicago's doubles team, the Seahawks doubles team of Violet Apisah and Vanja Vidanovic advanced to the final of the ITA Cup Super Bowl on Monday to play the NJCAA representatives from Cowley College. With doubles settled early, attention was moved to singles play where Katie Visnevscaia was matched up with Justine Lespes of Georgia Gwinnett. Visnevscaia jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but Lespes fought back and was able to get the breaks she needed to take the first set 7-5. The second set would be even throughout with a tiebreaker needed at 6-6. Lespes had two match-point opportunities at 6-4, but Visnevscaia was able to fight back and take the 9-7 tiebreaker to force the third set. With the score at 4-3 in favor of Visnevscaia, she would get the break she needed to put pressure on the Georgia Gwinnett player. However, on the only match point of the game for Visnevscaia, Lespes would fight through the point and even the match at 5-5. Lespes would follow with a break and serve out the final game to win the match.




Head Coach Daniel Finn said, "Of course not the result we wanted with Katie's match today for sure, but this doesn't diminish anything from the tournament she has had. For her to play the two last matches she has played at the level she has is outstanding. Honestly, after that physical match yesterday with Violet, I was curious to see how she would come out and respond today and for her to fight like she did for another three hours, today is a true testament to her grit and competitiveness. Of course, if she looks back, there are some moments in the match that she wishes she could have back, but that's tennis. Being a freshman, the moment was definitely tough for her to handle today, and it's a learning experience for her. As for the team and the support she had, I think it pushed her forward. Honestly, I think it took some getting used to as in some ways it almost applies more pressure when you're not used to it. Overall, I thought she did a good job of using them to help push her forward and gave her energy, especially late in the match as she wore down late. It's definitely a tough one to lose, especially having the opportunity she did, but to see her battle back the way she did, saving multiple match points to even get it into the situation she did, was great to see. The fun part is that she's only got better tennis ahead of her, and it's going be fun to watch her continue to grow and improve."



(1) Violet Apisah
Rd. 16: Def. Olivia Scattini (LSU-A) (6-3, 6-0)
QF: Def. Angel Carney (GGC) (6-0, 6-1)
SF: Lost to Katie Visnevscaia (Keiser) (6-7(3), 6-4, 3-6)

Isabella Perez Flores
Rd. 16: Def. Anastasiia Vorobiova (LWC) (6-2, 6-2)
QF: Lost to No. 4 Teodora Jovic (GGC) (4-6, 6-7(1))
bd: Lost to Victoria Vieten (WCU) (2-6, 5-7)

Katie Visnevscaia
Rd. 16: Def. Hanna Lindeboom (WWU) (6-0, 6-1)
QF: Def. Alizee Ripolles (UNOH) (6-0, 6-1)
SF: Def. (1) Violet Apisah (Keiser) (7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3)
C: Lost to (2) Justine Lespes (GGC) (5-7, 7-6(7), 5-7)



 
Apisah/Vidanovic
Rd. 16: Def. Igarashi/Kondo (Union) (7-5, 6-3)
QF: Def. (4) Gunfaus/Ruiz Masip (Westcliff) (6-2, 7-6(4))
SF: Def. Kleijn/Scattini (LSU-A) (6-4, 7-6(3))
C: Def. Benjumeda/Talbi (SCAD-ATL) (6-3, 6-4)
SB SF: Def. Lin/Mikos (UChicago) (walkover)
SB C: Vs. Arystanbekova/Babenko (Cowley CC)
 
Perez Flores/Kononovich
Rd. 16: Def. Beer/Savvides (HCC) (5-7, 6-3, 11-9)
QF: Lost to (1) Langa/Wheatley (XULA) (6-4, 4-6, 3-10)
bd: Def. Viljoen/Drukerova (Union) (3-6, 6-1, 10-7)

 

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