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BLACKSBURG – Senior Francesca Fusinato and the doubles pairing of senior Sansitha Nandakumar and freshman Luisa Uscocovich led the charge for the Virginia Tech women’s tennis team, as all three members walked away victorious at the 2016 Hokie Fall Invitational on Sunday, held at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center, in Blacksburg.

Tournament Central

The Feltre Belluno, Italy, native cruised past UNCW’s Madara Straume in straight sets, winning by a score of 6-1, 6-1 to claim the championship title in the Maroon Singles Flight. Fusinato also recorded wins over Radford’s Drousile Dzeubou (6-1, 6-3) and VCU’s Anna Ramussen (6-4, 7-6 (8-6)) throughout the three-day event.

“When you play in the ACC, it’s always a challenge,” Fusinato said, “It’s never easy. You have to play your game. My opponent was solid today, but I didn’t let her play her game. I dictated mine, so she didn’t feel comfortable. I think that was the key to the match today. I’m definitely happier with my play overall.”

In doubles action, Nandakumar and Uscocovich also defeated James Madison’s Jona Roka and Emma Petersen, 8-5, earning the Hokie Doubles Flight championship crown. The duo picked up victories over GW’s Maria Siopacha and Allison Hansen (8-5) and Tech’s Sloan Barton and Emily Pence (8-3) on Saturday to advance to the finals. Of note, Nandakumar and Uscocovich was the only Hokies’ doubles tandem to go 3-0 on the weekend.

“I played in three Hokie Invites throughout my career, and I won two-out-of-three doubles flights,” Nandakumar said. “It was very exciting. We never gave up. It was a lot of fun, and we just kept fighting.”

“It was awesome,” Uscocovich said. “I was nervous at the beginning, but I knew I was apart of a team, and I was confident she had my back. Sansitha was a great partner, and I’m glad I played with someone who had experience for my first tournament here. I’m happy we pulled out a win today.”

Additionally, Nandakumar dropped a 6-4, 6-1 decision to GW’s Maria Sipacha in the final round of the Orange Singles Flight. Of note, the Coimbatore, India, native also was the only Hokie to join Fusinato in the finals.

Tech will be back in action this weekend, as the team will split to cap its fall slate at three different tournaments - the Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Clay Court Tournament, the Louisville Tennis Classic and the Terrier Classic - from Nov. 4-6.

Hokies Doubles Flight:

Sansitha Nandakumar/Luisa Uscocovich (Tech) def. Jona Roka/Emma Petersen (JMU), 8-5

McKenzie Collins/Fallon Delp (Tech) def. Alix Theodossiou/Thai Thompson (UNCW), 8-4

Lucy Williams/Yevgeniya Shusterman (Towson) def. Sloan Barton/Emily Pence (Tech), 8-3

Tech Doubles Flight:

Anna Rasmussen/Janina Braun (VCU) def. Francesca Fusinato/Natalie Novotna (Tech), 8-0

Sarah Baron/Nancy Ghanem (Tech) def. Drousile Dzeubou/Natalie Sayer (Radford), 8-6

Maroon Singles Flight:

Francesca Fusinato (Tech) def. Madara Straume (UNCW), 6-1, 6-1

Natalie Novotna (Tech) def. Anna Ramussen (VCU), 7-5, 6-3

Orange Singles Flight:

Maria Siopacha (GW) def. Sansitha Nandakumar (Tech), 6-4, 6-1

Nancy Ghanem (Tech) def. Barbora Vasilkova (Towson), 2-6, 6-2 (10-6)

Xandra Fougner (UNCW) def. Sarah Baron (Tech), 7-6 (7-4), 6-4

Grey Singles Flight:

Nikola Novackova (Marshall) def. McKenzie Collins (Tech), 6-2, 2-6, 10-6

Jane Schusterman (Towson) def. Fallon Delp (Tech), 6-3, 6-3

Sabrina Barisano (UNCW) def. Emily Pence (Tech), 6-4, 6-4

Black Singles Flight:

Luisa Uscocovich (Tech) def. Kamila Beisenova (GW), 6-3, 6-3

Lucy Vesage (Towson) def. Sloan Barton (Tech), 6-2, 6-2

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