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BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech women’s tennis team advanced two doubles tandems and two singles players to the final round of competition at the 2016 Hokie Fall Invitational on Saturday, held at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center, in Blacksburg.

Tournament Central

The day began with two rounds of doubles, followed by one round of singles in the afternoon session.

Senior Francesca Fusinato and freshman Natalie Novotna started the day off strong for the Hokies, taking care of business in their respected flight, as the duo did not give up a game in the quarterfinal match vs. Radford. The pairing cruised past Radford’s Drousile Dzeubou and Natalie Sayer (8-0) and then picked up an 8-6 semifinal victory over James Madison’s Timea Guibe and Kimmy Herrock. The doubles tandem will compete against VCU’s Anna Rasmussen and Janina Braun in the final round of the Tech Doubles Flight on Sunday.

Senior Sansitha Nandakumar and freshman Luisa Uscocovich, and junior Sloan Barton and sophomore Emily Pence each clinched a quarterfinal round victory, setting up a Hokies’ semifinal matchup in the Hokies Doubles Flight. Nandakumar and Uscocovich captured an 8-3 decision over Barton and Pence, advancing to the finals in their respected draw. The doubles pairing will face JMU’s Jona Roka and Emma Petersen on Sunday.

The seniors led the charge in singles action, as Fusinato and Nandakumar advanced to the final round of competition in the Maroon and Orange Singles Flight, respectively.

Fusinato defeated VCU’s Ramussen in her first three-set battle of the weekend. Fusinato captured the first set, but dropped the second. She then bounced back in set three to claim the match by a score of 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. The Feltre Belluno, Italy, native will square off against UNCW’s Madara Straume in the final round of competition on Sunday.

“I didn’t play my best tennis, but my opponent was playing a game that pushed me a lot,” Fusinato said, “She had a really powerful serve. Going into tomorrow, I know that my opponent is more of a grinder. I want to be more in charge of the points and dictate the match. I’m just trying to stay positive, because I also had a great match in doubles with Natalie today.”

Nandakumar also defeated VCU’s Magda Aubets in straight sets, winning by a score of 7-6 (7-2), 6-2. The Coimbatore, India, native will play against George Washington’s Maria Siopacha in the finals on Sunday morning.

“I didn’t give up,” Nandakumar said. “I gave it my all every single point. I played every point. I like pressure, so I can’t wait to play in the finals tomorrow. I just have to keep fighting.”

Of note, seven other Hokies competed in singles play today.

The third and final day of the Hokie Fall Invite resumes tomorrow with doubles action at 9 a.m., followed by two rounds of singles play at 10:30 a.m.

A recap will be available following each day of competition at HokieSports.com.

Tech Doubles Flight:

Francesca Fusinato/Natalie Novotna (Tech) def. Drousile Dzeubou/Natalie Sayer (Radford), 8-0

Francesca Fusinato/Natalie Novotna (Tech) def. Timea Guibe/Kimmy Herrock (JMU), 8-6

Anna Rasmussen/Janina Braun (VCU) def. Sarah Baron/Nancy Ghanem (Tech), 8-5

A.J. Gomer/Renate van Oorschodt (Townson) def. Sarah Baron/Nancy Ghanem (Tech), 8-3

Hokies Doubles Flight:

Sansitha Nandakumar/Luisa Uscocovich (Tech) def. Maria Siopacha/Allison Hansen (GW), 8-3

Sansitha Nandakumar/Luisa Uscocovich (Tech) def. Sloan Barton/Emily Pence (Tech), 8-3

Sloan Barton/Emily Pence (Tech) def. Sophie Lesage/Lucy Gloninger (Towson), 8-3

Marie-Louise Decamps/Victoria Kogen (GW) def. McKenzie Collins/Fallon Delp (Tech), 8-4

Maroon Singles Flight:

Francesca Fusinato (Tech) def. Anna Ramussen (VCU), 6-1, 5-7, 6-4

Madara Straume (UNCW) def. Natalie Novotna (Tech), 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 7-5

Orange Singles Flight:

Sansitha Nandakumar (Tech) def. Magda Aubets (VCU), 7-6 (7-2), 6-2

Janina Braun (VCU) def. Sarah Baron (Tech), 6-2, 6-1

Rachel Nelson (JMU) def. Nancy Ghanem (Tech), 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (6)

Grey Singles Flight:

Darya Berezhnaya (VCU) def. Emily Pence (Tech), 6-4, 6-0

Annika Sillanpaa (UNCW) def. Fallon Delp (Tech), 6-3, 6-1

Black Singles Flight:

Lucy Gloninger (Towson) def. Sloan Barton (Tech), 6-1, 6-1

Dylan Owens (JMU) def. Luisa Uscocovich (Tech), 6-4, 6-2

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