Wildcats Top Seattle U, Advance to Semifinals of WAC Tournament

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Abilene Christian women's tennis team advanced to the semifinals of the WAC Team Tennis Championship for the third time in four years with a 4-2 victory over Seattle U on Thursday afternoon.

The Wildcats, seeded No. 4 in this year's draw, earned the doubles point over the No. 5 Redhawks thanks to an incredible comeback by Masha Vrsalovic and Alice Klinteby on the first line.

Down 5-1, the pair won five consecutive games to stay alive. After SU pulled even at 6-6 in the set, ACU won the tiebreaker 7-5.

 
Maria Cascos and Olivia Sears continued their hot streak at No. 3 doubles. The pair earned a 6-4 win for their fourth victory in-a-row. Cascos and Sears are now 9-3 as doubles partners this spring.

In singles competition, Seattle U tied the score 1-1 with a win at the No. 1 position. ACU regained the lead with a straight-set win by Alice Klinteby at No. 5 singles, and Olivia Sears defeated her opponent in three sets at the No. 2 line.

The Redhawks claimed the No. 6 singles, slicing the Wildcats' lead to 3-2.
 


Angelo Del Campo, who had been on a three-match slide and had not won a singles match in more than a month, came through with the match-clinching point at No. 3 singles. Del Campo beat Liliya Dimova, 7-6, 6-2 and was surrounded by teammates when they rushed on the court after the final point.

It is the second straight year ACU has defeated Seattle U in the quarterfinal round, and for the second year in a row the Wildcats will face Grand Canyon in the semifinals.

ACU and the No. 1 seeded Lopes square off on Friday at 11 a.m. at the UTA Tennis Center. Fans can follow along with live video from several courts on WAC International, and through live results.

The winner advances to the championship on Saturday at 11 a.m.