WILLIAMSBURG — William & Mary women’s tennis enjoyed a strong opening day of the 29th annual Tribe Invitational. The Green and Gold combined to go 12-3 in singles, advancing six players to the finals of their respective flights, and 2-0 in doubles.
It will be an all W&M final in both the Gold and Green Singles Draws. Seniors Alessandra Anghel (Gold) and Ine Stange (Green), sophomores Francesca Davis (Green) and Emma Pell (White), and freshman Mira Kernagis (Black) each went 2-0 is singles action on Saturday to advance to the final in their singles draws. Senior Hedda Gurholt also advanced to the Gold Singles final after receiving an opening round bye and winning her semifinal match.
In the Gold Singles Draw, Anghel topped UNCG’s Sasha Dodashev, 6-2, 7-6, in the quarterfinals, before upending Richmond’s Andy Campodonico, 7-6 (4), 6-4, in the semifinals. Gurholt knocked off Richmond’s Sofia Barbulescu, 6-4, 6-4, in her lone match of the afternoon in the semifinals. The Tribe seniors meet in the finals on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
Two Tribe players meet in the finals of the Green Singles Draw as well. Stange won twice on Saturday, both in three sets, topping UNCG’s Raegan Mitchell in the quarterfinals and Cincinnati’s Sarah Watanabe in the semifinals. Davis will meet her teammate in the finals thanks to two wins on Saturday. After dropping just three games (6-0, 6-3) in a quarterfinal win over Richmond’s Lucy Webber, Davis outlasted teammate Sia Chaudry in three sets, 6-3, 4-6, 10-6, in the semifinals.
In her first collegiate tournament, Kernagis opened with two victories. She dropped only one game in a 6-1, 6-0 win over UNCG’s Luna Urso in the quarterfinals of the Black Singles Draw. The Tribe rookie advanced to the finals with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Richmond’s Abby Lee. She meets Richmond’s Lainey O’Neil in the finals at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Also in the Black Draw, senior Emma Fernald won her consolation match after falling in the quarterfinals to start the event. She downed Cincinnati’s Morgan Pyrz, 6-3, 6-4.
Pell earned a spot in the White Singles final thanks to a pair of wins on Saturday. She downed Richmond’s Amy Walsh, 6-1, 6-2, before rallying for a three-set win over Cincinnati’s Isabel Pacheco, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 10-7. She faces Elizabeth Novak of Richmond in the finals on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
In doubles, Anghel and Davis opened with a win over Cincinnati’s Pyrz nad Watanabe, 6-4, in the Colonial Draw. Sophomore Parker Debnam and Kernig dropped just a game in a 6-1 win over UNCG’s Olexa and Birkevold in the Griffin Doubles Draws.
The final day of the Tribe Invitational is set to begin at 9 a.m. at both the Mackesy Tennis Center and McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center. The day starts with the doubles semifinals and finals before the last round of singles at 11:30 a.m.
W&M Results from the Tribe Invitational
Gold Singles Draw
Quarterfinals
Alessandra Anghel (W&M) def. Sasha Dodashev (UNCG) – 6-2, 7-6
Semifinals
Hedda Gurholt (W&M) def. Sofia Barbulescu (UR) – 6-4, 6-4
Alessandra Anghel (W&M) def. Andy Campodonico (UR) – 7-6 (4), 6-4
Green Singles Draw
Quarterfinals
Ine Stange (W&M) def. Raegan Mitchell (UNCG) – 3-6, 6-1, 10-3
Francesca Davis (W&M) def. Lucy Webber (UR) – 6-0, 6-3
Semifinals
Francesca Davis (W&M) def. Sia Chaudry (W&M) – 6-3, 4-6, 10-6
Ine Stange (W&M) def. Sarah Watanabe (CIN) – 5-7, 6-3, 10-6
Black Singles Draw
Quarterfinals
Mira Kernagis (W&M) def. Luna Urso (UNCG) – 6-1, 6-0
Elisabeth Birkevold (UNCG) def. Emma Fernald (W&M) – 2-6, 6-2, 10-5
Semifinals
Mira Kernagis (W&M) def. Abby Lee (UR) – 6-3, 6-1
Consolation Semifinals
Emma Fernald (W&M) def. Morgan Pyrz (CIN) – 6-3, 6-4
White Singles Draw
Quarterfinals
Emma Pell (W&M) def. Amy Walsh (UR) – 6-1, 6-2
Semifinals
Elizabeth Novak (UR) def. Parker Debnam (W&M) – 6-2, 6-3
Emma Pell (W&M) def. Isabel Panheco (CIN) – 3-6, 7-6 (4), 10-7
Colonial Doubles Draw
Quarterfinals
Anghel/Davis (W&M) def. Pyrz/Watanabe (CIN) – 6-4
Griffin Doubles Draw
Quarterfinals
Debnam/Kernig’s (W&M) def. Olexa/Birkevold (UNCG) – 6-1
