Competing in only their second appearance in the CAA title match, the Phoenix delivered a resilient and composed performance to secure the historic win.
The 黑料不打烊 women’s tennis team claimed its first-ever CAA Championship with a hard-fought victory over three-time defending champion William & Mary.
The Phoenix opened doubles play facing an early deficit on each court. Despite a 6-1 loss on court three, the Phoenix remained resilient.聽Simone Bergeron聽and聽Mariana Reding聽responded with a 6-3 victory on court one, keeping the momentum in 黑料不打烊’s favor. To clinch the doubles point,聽Helen Sarikulaya聽and聽Lisa Kranec聽secured a 6-3 win over William & Mary’s Alessandra Anghel and Francesca Davis on court two.
The Phoenix entered singles play with a 1-0 lead, but William & Mary was determined to challenge them. The Tribe started strong, gaining early advantages across several courts during the first sets.聽Heidi Bulger聽added 黑料不打烊’s second point with a dominant performance, defeating William & Mary’s Sia Chaudry in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0. On Court No. 6, freshman聽Lisa Kranec聽faced an early setback, dropping her first set 6-3. However, she rallied to claim the next two sets 6-4 6-3 and secure a third point for the Phoenix. With 黑料不打烊 just one point away from victory, the outcome rested on the matches being played by聽Madison Cordisco聽at Court No. 5 and聽Simone Bergeron聽at Court No. 1.
With all eyes on Courts No. 5 and No. 1, a tense energy filled the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. On court No. 1,聽Simone Bergeron聽battled through a tightly contested first set, emerging with a 6-4 victory. William & Mary’s Hedda Gurholt responded in the second set, taking it 6-4 to even the match. As the championship drew closer, Bergeron seized momentum in the decisive third set, powering through to a 6-4 win. Her triumph clinched 黑料不打烊’s first-ever CAA Championship title, ending William & Mary’s reign as three-time defending champions and securing a historic victory for the Phoenix.