Box Score The 2022 ITA Cup Singles National Champion reclaimed her spot on the throne on Sunday morning in Rome, Ga. Violet Apisah becomes the second two-time NAIA ITA Cup Singles National Champion on the women's side and just the 16th repeat champion in ITA Cup history.

The top-seeded Apisah found herself behind in the first set against No. 2 Shalimar Talbi of SCAD-Atlanta as Talbi earned a break for a 3-1 lead. Apisah would break back to even the match at 4-4, but Talbi would counter late in the set, taking the final two games and earning the 1-0 lead. Talbi found herself ahead in the second set in a similar spot, up 3-1. This time it was Apisah in control, as she won four straight games to make it 5-3. Talbi countered again to even the score as the two headed to a tiebreak for the second set. Apisah fought off an overule from the chair umpire to rattle off five straight points and eventually send the match into a third set. Riding the momentum, Apisah was able to break Talbi to go up 5-3 in the third. After Talbi rallied from 0-40 down in the game to make it 5-4, Apisah finished it on match point number seven three hours and 23 minutes after it began. Apisah wins the third ITA Cup Singles Championship in Keiser history (Simkiss '20, Apisah '22) and becomes the first repeat champion for the Seahawks. 




When asked about his thoughts on the match, Head Coach Daniel Finn said, "I mean, first and foremost, what a match! That was a top 300 WTA-level match people were treated to today. Both girls left everything out there and went for it. Just happy Violet was able to dig deep and come all the way back to come out on top and win the last point. Credit to Shalimar. She played some high-level tennis today and really brought the fight to Violet for 3 and a half hours. She had Violet against the wall, leading a set and 3-1. I don't know if people realize how tough of a comeback that Violet pulled off today on the biggest stage. Just really proud of Violet and how deep she dug in to win this one."

On the accomplishments of Apisah, "If there was ever any doubt there sure isn't at this point. The kid is the best female player to play in this storied program. I believe now she is 1 of only 2 NAIA players to win the ITA individual championship in singles. She is a top-notch representative of our program and just continues to cement herself in our women's tennis history. I'm sure if you ask her, today will be a special one she remembers for a while."

On the support staff, "I have to give credit to Mac (Robert McAdoo) and Nikita (Nikita Tatyanin) for the success of this team. We have one of the top coaching staffs in the country, and I'll stand by that statement. Grateful to have them both helping the players day in and out. Mac knows how to win. Period. He does a great job with the players, guiding them and putting them in the right place for them to execute."




(1) Violet Apisah
Rd. 16: Def. Maria Ange Ortega Mateu (LWC) (6-1, 6-1)
QF: Def. Jimena Ramirez Llorens (Grace) (6-1, 6-0)
SF: Def. Justine Lespes (GGC) (6-2, 6-2)
C: Def. Shalimar Talbi (SCAD-A) (5-7, 7-6(4), 6-4)

Cato Tangkau
Rd. 16: Def. Line Jensen (Morningside) (6-4, 6-0)
QF: Lost to (2)Shalimar Talbi (SCAD-A) (1-6, 5-7)
Bd: Def. Eloise de Mooij (KU) (6-3, 6-2)

Eloise de Mooij
Rd. 16: Def. Madeline Monroy (ACU) (6-0, 6-0)
QF: Lost to (4) Sofia Munoz (IWU) (3-6, 4-6)
Bd: Lost to Cato Tangkau (KU) (3-6, 2-6)



 
(3) de Mooij/Vidanovic
Rd. 16: Def. Rarmirez Llorens/Sandoval (Grace) (6-3, 6-2)
QF: Def. Lespes/Hernandez (GGC) (6-2, 7-5)
SF: Lost to (2) Langa/Wheatly (XULA) (7-5, 4-6, 6-10)
 

 

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