STAC Women's Tennis Earns ECC Regular Season Title with Hard-Fought 4-3 Victory At UDC

Posted: Oct 21, 2022

Washington, D.C. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Tennis team concluded its 2022 ECC Regular Season schedule on Friday, with a 4-3 victory over the University of the District of Columbia. The Spartans not only remain perfect on the season, but also capture the program's second conference regular season title.

STAC improves to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in ECC play, while UDC falls to 5-2 and 3-1.

The maroon and gold began the afternoon, taking two out of three doubles matches, as Eliza Mulder and Paula Palero took a 7-5 victory at No. 3 to set the tempo. The team of Ebba Rosberg and Samanta Villegas Robles would clinch the all important point for the Spartans with a 7-6 (6) triumph at the No. 1 position.

Ebba Rosberg would double the STAC lead at 2-0 with her win over Simone Parn; 6-0, 6-3 at No. 1 to open singles action. UDC got on the board with a win at the No. 2 position, before Samanta Villegas Robles would best Sofia Bellucco 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the No. 4 spot to extend the Spartans advantage to 3-1. Another Firebirds victory would cut the deficit to one (3-2), but Elita Silins would close things out and keep St. Thomas Aquinas perfect on the year with a 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Claudia Bahamon-Lopez.

Ebba Rosberg and Samanta Villegas Robles went 2-0 on the day with both doubles and singles victories over the Firebirds.

STAC 4/UDC 3 - OFFICIAL RESULTS

DOUBLES
1. Ebba Rosberg & Samanta Villegas Robles (STAC) def. Simone Parn & Sofia Bellucco (UDC) 7-6 (6)

2. Laura Marie & Celia Bastin (UDC) def. Elita Silins & Jemima Parkinson (STAC) 7-5

3. Eliza Mulder & Paula Palero (STAC) def. Mariona Franco Martin & Valentina Brienza (UDC) 7-5

Order of finish: 3, 2, 1*

SINGLES
1. Ebba Rosberg (STAC) def. Simone Parn (UDC) 6-0, 6-3

2. Mariona Franco Martin (UDC) def. Viktoriia Pavlovets (STAC) 7-5, 7-6 (3)

3. Lauren Marie (UDC) def. Paula Palero (STAC) 5-7, 6-3, 4-3 (Retired)

4. Samanta Villegas Robles (STAC) def. Sofia Bellucco (UDC) 1-6, 6-3, 6-1

5. Celia Bastin (UDC) def. Amaia Balaguer Brau (STAC) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

6. Elita Silins (STAC) def. Claudia Bahamon-Lopez (UDC) 6-2, 6-2

Order of finish: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6*, 3

UDC Record: 5-2, 3-1 ECC

STAC Record: 8-0, 5-0 ECC

THE ROCKHILL REPORT

"Another hard fought win today", said Head Coach Dan Rockhill. "UDC has some tough grinders who made themselves difficult to beat in several spots. We have been working in practice on ways to defeat these types of players but we struggled to effectively implement these strategies in spots."

"We were a little flat in doubles but I am proud of our grit and ability to fight off match points at #1 and #3 to secure the point."

"Ebba was terrific again today and I wouldn't trade her for any player in the region. She defeated a very strong player today and had to play extremely well to do so."

"Samy and Elita proved reliable again and always play with incredible desire."

"In general, we competed really hard today and there is no doubt in my mind that UDC will be a strong contender next week at the ECC tournament", remarked Rockhill.

"We will enjoy this one for 24 hours but will quickly get back to work to prepare for our next match."

UP NEXT
St. Thomas Aquinas College hosts Chestnut Hill College on Wednesday, October 25 at 2:30 p.m. Senior Day festivities will take place prior to the match at the Riley Family Tennis Courts.