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RICHMOND Va. – Virginia Commonwealth used strong singles play to defeat Virginia Tech, 6-1, Saturday afternoon at the Thalhimer Tennis Center on the VCU campus. The Rams improved to 14-1 on the year, while the Hokies fell to 5-5.

The Rams, ranked No. 23, took two of the three doubles matches for the first point of the day and captured five of the six single matches in the victory.

Martha Blakely (Jr., Reading, Pa.), ranked No. 120 nationally, registered Tech’s only point at No. 2 with a, 6-3, 6-4, win over Jasefin Hjertqust. Yasmin Hamza (Sr., Cairo, Egypt) dropped a tight, 7-6 (8), 7-5, match at No. 1 to Kateryna Yergina, Tea Ivanovic (Fr., Antwerpen, Belgium) lost, 6-1, 6-3, at No. 3 versus 107th-ranked Alex Bara and Shannon Betts (Jr., Newman, Ga.) dropped a tough, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, decision at No. 4 to Ana Bara.

In other singles results, Isel Martinez-Marcos (Fr., Esparreguera, Spain) fell, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 5 against Olga Terteac and Courtney Rauscher (So., Evans, Ga.) lost, 6-0, 4-6, 1-0 (2), in her No. 6 match versus Daria Yakavleva.

The doubles competition was a close affair with Tech taking the No. 2 contest as Blakely/Rauscher defeated Ana Bara/Hjertquist, 8-6. The Rams won at No. 3 as Betts/Ivanovic lost, 8-2, against Manuela Pietzuck/Yakaleva and VCU won the point as Hamza/Holly Johnson (Sr., Tallahassee, Fla.) lost, 9-7, at No. 1 to Alex Bara/Yergina.

The Hokies, ranked No. 68, will return quickly to the court as they face No. 8 Virginia in a Sunday noon match in Charlottesville.

#23 Virginia Commowealth 6, #68 Virginia Tech 1

Singles

1. Kateryna Yergina (VCU) def. Yasmin Hamza (VT) 7-6 (8), 7-5

2. #120 Martha Blakely (VT) def. Josefin Hjertquist (VCU) 6-3, 6-4

3. #107 Alex Bara (VCU) def. Tea Ivanovic (VT) 6-1, 6-3

4. Ana Bara (VCU) def. Shannon Betts (VT) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3

5. Olga Terteac (VCU) def. Isel Martinez-Marcos (VT) 6-4, 6-3

6. DariaYakavleva (VCU) def. Courtney Rauscher (VT) 6-0, 4-6, 1-0 (2)

Doubles

1. Alex Bara/Yergina def. Hamza/Holly Johnson (VT) 9-7

2. Blakely/Rauscher (VT) def. Ana Bara/Hjertquist (VCU) 8-6

3. Manuela Pietzuch/Yakavleva (VCU) def. Betts/Ivanovic (VT) 8-2

For updates on Virginia Tech women's tennis, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_WTennis).