Axelsson Helps Pirates Top James Madison 4-3

Saturday, January 25

Harrisonburg, VA

10 AM

East Carolina University

James Madison

Photo by: Rob Taylor

January 25, 2020 | Women's Tennis

Box Score Box Score

HARRISONBURG, VA. – Trailing on three different occasions, the ECU women's tennis team battled back for a dramatic 4-3 win over James Madison on Saturday afternoon.

"What a battle and a great fight from both teams," said associate head coach Kristin Burgess. "After losing the doubles point, we knew it was going to be tough, but the girls dug in and we are all super proud of the effort today."

ECU improves to 1-2 on the season while James Madison is now 0-1.

The Pirates fell into a 1-0 hole for the third straight match after the doubles point went to James Madison. Jona Roka and Daria Afanasyeva were able to top Minette Van Vreden and Hanna Axelsson 6-3 on court two. The Dukes claimed the point when Amanda Nord and Kylie Moulin won a tiebreaker 7-6 (9-7) against Nastja Rettich and Michelle Ncube on court three.

ECU got its first point through its top player. Lisa Hofbauer, who has played all three matches on the top court, made quick work of Afanasyeva 6-2, 6-2 to tie the match at one. However, that tie was short lived as Moulin topped Ncube 6-3, 6-2 on court three.

The two teams again traded points, with ECU tying the match before James Madison swiped the lead right back. This time it was Sibel Tanik beating Roka 6-2, 1-6, 7-5 on court two before Voloh answered with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Rettich on court four.

With the match coming down to courts five and six, it looked like the Pirates had an advantage as Axelsson and Van Vreden had each won their respective first sets. However, in a match full of lead changes, Natalia Nikolopoulou and Nord added two more, as each bounced back to win their own second sets and send both matches to a decisive third set.

Van Vreden made sure the match would be decided on the final court when she cruised through her third set against Nord and put the finishing touches on a 6-2, 0-6, 6-2 win on court six.

That left Axelsson and Nikolopoulou fighting for the win on court five. Axelsson had a chance to clinch the match, taking both a 5-4 and 6-5 lead in the set. Such an exciting match was not destined to end in regulation though, as Nikolopoulou protected her serve to force a third-set tiebreaker. Finally, leading 6-5 in the breaker, Axelsson scored the winning point to finish her match 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5) and clinch the first win of the season for the Pirates.

It is the first 4-3 win that was decided on the final court since Hofbauer won in a tiebreaker of her own to help the Pirates top Cincinnati last April.

ECU will have two weeks off from competition before resuming action on February 8 at UNC Greensboro.

Singles Results
1. Lisa Hofbauer (ECU) def. Daria Afanasyeva (JMU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Sibel Tanik (ECU) def. Jona Roka (JMU) 6-2, 1-6, 7-5
3. Kylie Moulin (JMU) def. Michelle Ncube (ECU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Daniela Voloh (JMU) def. Nastja Rettich (ECU) 6-1, 6-4
5. Hanna Axelsson (ECU) def. Natalia Nikolopuolou (JMU) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Minette Van Vreden (ECU) def. Amanda Nord (JMU) 6-2, 0-6, 6-2

Doubles Results
1. Daniela Voloh/Natalia Nikolopoulou (JMU) vs. Lisa Hofbauer/Sibel Tanik (ECU) 6-5, unfinished
2. Jona Roka/Daria Afanasyeva (JMU) def. Minette Van Vreden/Hanna Axelsson (ECU) 6-3
3. Amanda Nord/Kylie Moulin (JMU) def. Nastja Rettich/Michelle Ncube (ECU) 7-6 (9-7)

Order of finish : Doubles (2,3) ; Singles (1,3,2,4,6,5)