Dukes Win Thriller on Senior Day, 4-3

Saturday, April 22

Harrisonburg, Va.

9 a.m.

James Madison University

Marshall

4/22/2023 4:41:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison sent its seniors out in thrilling fashion on Saturday with a 4-3 marathon win against Marshall in Sun Belt Conference women's tennis action.

The match began at Hillside Courts and transitioned inside to the East Campus Tennis Courts due to rain that started early on in singles play.

The Dukes concluded the regular season with a 13-7 overall record and 9-1 mark in Sun Belt play, while the Thundering Herd fell to 14-8 and 7-4.

Prior to the opening serve, the Dukes recognized their three seniors in Daria Afanasyeva, Kylie Moulin and Daniela Voloh, who entered the day having won a combined 430 matches at JMU.

The Dukes claimed the doubles point, while the teams split in singles play. The decisive point was scored in a three-set battle on court five while tied at 3-3.

Voloh went 2-0 on the day, while Kylie Moulin and Ines Oliveira provided singles wins to lift the Dukes past the Herd.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Doubles Play

The teams split matches on courts one and two, while JMU rallied from down big on court three to clinch the doubles point in a tiebreak.
On court one, Johanna Strom and Emma Vanderheyden claimed a 6-2 victory against Kylie Moulin and Oliveira.
The Dukes evened things on court two, as Voloh and Daria Munteanu dispatched Aisling McGrane and Sophia Hurrion, 6-3.
Over on court three, the tandem of Afanasyeva and Reka Matko trailed 4-1 before storming back to force a tiebreak. In the breaker and tied at 6-6, the JMU duo rattled off consecutive points to secure the point with a 7-6 (6) victory over Gabrielle Clariotte and Ricke Gillar.

Singles Play

Early into singles, rain in the area forced the match indoors at the East Campus Tennis Court.
Upon resumption of the match, Marshall quickly tied the bout at 1-1, as Vanderheyden defeated Afanasyeva, 6-1, 6-4.
JMU got a point back moments later on court three when Voloh cruised past Doroteja Joksovic, 6-2, 6-2.
Kylie Moulin gutted out a close straight-set win on court one, rallying in the second set to beat Strom, 6-2, 7-6 (3).
Marshall stayed in the match on court four with a 6-1, 6-1 victory from McGrane over Munteanu.
The Thundering Herd tied the match again, at 3-3, as Hurrion pulled away for a 6-2, 6-3 win versus Hope Moulin.
The match would be decided in a three-set showdown on court five. After trading sets, Oliveira pulled ahead to a 5-3 lead in the final frame. Hurrion staved off two match points to make it 5-4, but Oliveira answered by breaking Marshall back to close out the match with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 triumph.

QUOTING HEAD COACH SHELLEY JAUDON
"What an incredibly special day for our program and especially our three seniors. This match had a little bit of everything with playing outside and inside, momentum swings and a great fight from both teams. We are all so proud of Ines and the resiliency she showed today. This is exactly what our team needed as we head into the Sun Belt Championship next week."

UP NEXT
JMU travels to Peachtree City, Ga., to compete at the Sun Belt Conference Women's Tennis Championship, which will be held April 26-29 at the Peachtree City Tennis Center.

By virtue of its win, the Dukes locked up the No. 2 seed and will play in the quarterfinals on Thursday, April 27 at 2 p.m.