CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia women’s tennis team defeated Illinois (15-13) 4-1 to advance to the Round of 16 of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Tennis Championship on Saturday (May 3) at the Virginia Tennis Facility at the Boar’s Head Resort.
The match started outside but later moved to the indoor courts during singles due to weather.
Sophomore Blanca Pico Navarro clinched the victory for the Cavaliers (22-5) on court six, propelling Virginia to the Round of 16 for the fifth straight year.
Virginia advances to face the 10-seed Tennessee on Friday, May 9 at 4 p.m. at the Virginia Tennis Facility. Admission is free.
Graduate student Sara Ziodato and junior Meggie Navarro started the match with a 6-2 victory on doubles court three. Freshman Martina Genis Salas and junior Annabelle Xu followed with a 6-3 win on doubles court two, clinching the doubles point for Virginia and putting the Hoos up 1-0.
After the match was moved inside, freshman Karolina Kozakova topped Ariel Madatali 6-0, 6-3 on court five, giving Virginia a 2-0 advantage over the Illini.
Courts two and four ended within just moments of one another. Genis Salas extended the Cavalier lead to 3-0 on court four, defeating Kida Ferrari 6-3, 6-2.
Illinois followed right after with a 6-3, 6-2 victory on…
