Dukes Battle Past Spiders for Home Victory

Sunday, January 29

Harrisonburg, Va.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

Richmond

1/29/2023 6:30:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison women's tennis dug deep in Sunday's matchup against Richmond, winning a trio of three-set singles matches for a 6-1 victory at the East Campus Tennis Courts.

The Dukes moved to 2-1 on the season, while the Spiders fell to 0-5 in 2023. The win was JMU's eighth straight over UR, dating back to 2013.

JMU won all three doubles matches and five of six singles bouts, though three came by way of a comeback.

The Dukes opened the match with a sweep of doubles play to gain the early 1-0 lead. The team of Kylie Moulin and Ines Oliveira dispatched Carly Cohen and Leonor Oliveira on court one by a score of 6-3 to give JMU the advantage. Minutes later on court three, Daria Afanasyeva and Reka Matko claimed a 6-4 victory against Lara Bakhaya and Elizabeth Novak to clinch the doubles point.

JMU capped off doubles on court two, as Daria Munteanu and Daniela Voloh downed Marta Buendia and Andrea Campodonico, 6-3. It's the second straight match JMU has won all three doubles bouts.

Richmond began singles by squaring the match at 1-1, as Cohen defeated Afanasyeva, 6-4, 6-2, on court two.

JMU regained the lead with a pair of thrilling comeback wins on courts one and three. After dropping the tiebreak in her opening set, Moulin rallied back to down UR's Oliveira, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-2.

On the far court in an absolute slugfest, JMU's Oliveira overcame a third-set deficit and owned the final four games to take down Campodonico by scores of 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, giving JMU a 3-1 advantage in the match.

JMU clinched the team win on court six, where Matko cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 triumph against Bakhaya. It was Matko's first time in her young career that she clinched the decisive point for JMU.

Moments later, Voloh capped off an amazing comeback on court four in three sets. After dropping the first set and later trailing 4-1 in the third to Novak, the redshirt senior bunkered down and won the match's final five games to earn a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 win.

Munteanu finished the day with a straight-set victory on court five, as she dropped Buendia by scores of 6-2, 6-4.

Match Notes

Daniela Voloh moved into sole possession of fourth place at JMU in career singles wins, with 76. She passed Kimmy Herrock, who had 75 victories from 2014-18.
With her win at #1 singles, Kylie Moulin moved into a four-way tie for 10th place with 59 career victories at JMU. She's currently tied with Daria Afanasyeva and former Dukes Susie Peeling (1981-85) and Sheri Puppo (1997-01).
On the doubles career ranks, Afanasyeva sits tied for third at JMU with 67 wins, followed by Voloh in eighth, with 59. Moulin also moved into a tie for 10th Sunday with her 54th doubles win at JMU, matching Lauren Graham (2003-07).

Up Next
JMU opens a nine-match road trip spanning the next seven weeks, as it travels to Muncie, Ind., to face Ball State (2-1) on Friday, Feb. 3. The opening serve is set for 1:30 p.m.