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Box Score 4 The Keiser women's tennis team delivered a dominant showing at the ITA Cup, highlighted by Violet Apisah capturing her third singles championship and multiple Seahawks advancing deep into both singles and doubles draws. Apisah becomes the first women's player in ITA Cup history to win the singles title three times. She is just the second player of either gender to accomplish the feat.
Apisah cruised through the singles draw in convincing fashion, dropping just three total games in her first three matches. She opened with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Ayala Stephens (Hope) to take the all-time wins record at Keiser and followed with a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Ivet Prat (Tennessee Wesleyan) in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Apisah was untouchable, blanking Victoria Vieten (William Carey) 6-0, 6-0. Moving indoors due to weather on the final day, she capped her flawless run with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Shalimar Talbi (SCAD-Atlanta) to claim the singles title. Cato Tangkau also made a strong push to the semifinals, earning gritty wins over Maja Brnic (Xavier (La.)) and Michelle Irigoyen (Marian) before falling to Talbi in the semis.
In doubles play, Violet and Patricia Apisah advanced to the championship match after a dominant run through the bracket. The sister duo collected straight-set victories in their first three matches, including a 6-2, 6-1 semifinal win over Maja Brnic and McKenna Wheatley (Xavier (La.)). In the final, they battled Talbi and Adrianna Kluska (SCAD Atlanta) before falling 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 to finish as ITA Cup runners-up. Tangkau and Alexandra Melnikova also reached the semifinals, notching wins over pairs from Stanton and Texas Wesleyan before a narrow 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (11-9) loss in a super tiebreak to the eventual champions from SCAD-Atlanta.
When asked about his thoughts on the weekend, Head Coach
Daniel Finn said, "Overall, it was a strong week of tennis. I'll always see things we can take away and work on, but to have Keiser represented in the finals of both singles and doubles and have all of our players make the semifinals, it speaks volumes about our program and the work the girls have been putting in."
On if he was surprised by the play of Apisah, "I'm not surprised she played as well as she did. She knew the final would be tough, and her opponent competed well. But for Violet, she came in focused, and her level of play wasn't a shock at all. She is capable of playing at such a high level, and today she did that when it mattered the most in the final. I'm proud of her and all she has accomplished so far. She represents our program at such a high level and deserves all the accolades that she gets. As for being the only three-time national champ, she deserves that moment; she earned it."
On the core of the team going into the spring, "We're excited. We have a strong core of players that really showed out this fall. Having like-level players at home getting ready for the spring just adds to the excitement for the potential of this women's team.
On the support staff, "Couldn't have had the success we had this week without Yassir (Kilani). He played a huge role and was always there for the team. He helped the girls through some tough times in big moments this tournament. He is a future star in this profession."
(1)
Violet Apisah
R16: Def. Ayala Stephens (Hope) 6-0, 6-2
QF: Def. Ivet Prat (Tennessee Wesleyan) 6-1, 6-0
SF: Def. (3) Victoria Vieten (William Carey) 6-0, 6-0
C: Def. (2) Shalimar Talbi (SCAD-Atlanta) 7-5, 6-2
(4) Cato Tangkau
R16: Def. Maja Brnic (XULA) 6-0, 6-2
QF: Def. Michelle Irigoyen (Marian) 4-6, 7-5, 6-0
SF: Lost to (2) Shalimar Talbi (SCAD-Atlanta) 6-1, 6-0
(1) Apisah/Apisah
R16: Def. Olivia Alcala/Laia Berne (Tennessee Wesleyan) 6-0, 6-1
QF: Def. Martina Cortal/Mayra Gisone (Lindsey Wilson) 6-3, 6-2
SF: Def. (4) Maja Brnic/McKenna Wheatley (Xavier (La.)) 6-2, 6-1
C: Lost to (2) Shalimar Talbi/Adrianna Kluska (SCAD-Atlanta) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
(3) Tangkau/Melnikova
R16: Def. Romy Pols/Paula Rodriguez (Stanton) 6-2, 6-0
QF: Def. Honoka Tsuji/Ivet Prat (Tennessee Wesleyan) 7-5, 6-0
SF: Lost to (2) Shalimar Talbi/Adrianna Kluska (SCAD Atlanta) 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (11-9)
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