JMU Closes Non-Conference Slate with Impressive Win at VCU

Saturday, March 1

Richmond, Va.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

VCU

JMU Closes Non-Conference Slate with Impressive Win at VCU

3/1/2025 5:40:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – James Madison wrapped up its non-conference women's tennis slate with a dominant showing in the capital, as it cruised to a 4-0 victory at VCU on Saturday afternoon at the Thalhimer Tennis Center.

The win for JMU (2-8) was a long a long time coming, as it was its first against VCU (4-5) in 28 years, with the previous win coming in a 6-3 decision in Richmond on Feb. 2, 1997.

The victory ended a 16-match skid to the Rams, and it was the first time JMU blanked VCU since a 9-0 triumph nearly 44 years ago on March 24, 1981.

JMU took the doubles point with convincing wins on courts two and three and later rattled off straight-set singles victories on courts one, three and four to clinch the win.

"The team has continued to get stronger and stronger this spring," Head Coach Tyson Thomas said. "We learned lessons early in the year with a really difficult schedule, and we're beginning to see that pay off. We know what it takes to win at a high level. Credit VCU, which has been a tough team with a tremendous winning culture for decades. Our team is starting to define its identity, and the timing couldn't be better as we begin Sun Belt play next week."

The Dukes seized control early, as it conceded a combined three games on courts two and three to take the 1-0 match lead.

The tandem of Elena Kraleva and Mia Saveljic dominated play on court two, downing Sara Alba and Andrea Magllanes, 6-1. Shortly after, the team of Hope Moulin and Daria Munteanu took down Tania Andrade Sabando and Yelizaveta Karlova, 6-2, to clinch the doubles point.

Also on court one, Ines Oliveira and Sophie Williams battled VCU's top doubles duo of Lea Malazdra and Sofia Jane Thorne to a 4-4 stalemate when it went unfinished.

JMU quickly doubled its lead to 2-0, as Munteanu only needed one set to earn the decision. Andrade Sabando retired from the bout after Munteanu won the opening set by a 6-2 score.

In a back-and-forth match, Oliveira outlasted Karlova on court four, winning the match by scores of 6-3, 6-4, to move the lead to 3-0.

The Dukes clinched the team win on court three, where Williams dispatched Magallanes, 6-3, 6-2. After winning the opening set, Williams trailed Magallanes 2-0 in the second before rattling off six straight games.

Two other matches went unfinished, as Kraleva dropped a tiebreak in the opening set on court two and Saveljic was early in her bout on court five, while Moulin's court-six matchup never began.

JMU opens Sun Belt Conference play on Friday, March 7 when it hosts Marshall at 2 p.m. from Hillside Courts. It will be match two of a doubleheader with the men's program, which faces William & Mary at 10 a.m.

JMU 4, VCU 0
Doubles Results
Court 1: #61 Ines Oliveira/Sophie Williams (JMU) vs. Lea Malazdra/Sofia Jane Thorne (VCU), 4-4 unfinished
Court 2: Elena Kraleva/Mia Saveljic (JMU) def. Sara Alba/Andrea Magallanes (VCU), 6-1
Court 3: Hope Moulin/Daria Munteanu (JMU) def. Tania Andrade Sabando/Yelizaveta Karlova (VCU), 6-2

Singles Results
Court 1: Daria Munteanu (JMU) def. Tania Andrade Sabando (VCU), 6-2 win by retirement
Court 2: Elena Kraleva (JMU) vs. Sofia Jane Thorne (VCU), 6-7 (3-7), 0-1 unfinished
Court 3: Sophie Williams (JMU) def. Andrea Magallanes (VCU), 6-3, 6-2
Court 4: Ines Oliveira (JMU) def. Yelizaveta Karlova (VCU), 6-3, 6-4
Court 5: Mia Saveljic (JMU) vs. Lea Malazdra (VCU), 2-4 unfinished
Court 6: Hope Moulin (JMU) vs. Sara Alba (VCU), did not start

Order of Results: Doubles (2-3*), Singles (1, 4, 3*)