Friday, January 17
Lynchburg, Va.
10:00 AM ET
Liberty University
3
vs
4
Elon
Liberty Splits Home Doubleheader to Open Spring Season
1/17/2025 6:58:00 PM | Women's Tennis
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty women's tennis team kicked off the 2025 season spitting a home doubleheader with a 4-3 loss to Elon and a 4-0 sweep over Longwood. Freshmen Yu-Yun Chen and Yoanna Radulova both impressed in their spring Liberty debuts, combining for a 7-1 overall record for the day.
The Lady Flames began the day with a solid doubles round against Elon, but managed just two singles victories to conclude the match. Freshmen Chen and Radulova each secured their first career spring singles triumphs. Liberty owned a 2-0 lead after Chen's victory before Elon rattled off four consecutive victories to cinch the match at 4-2. Liberty's Daniella O'Neill fell ill prior to the match but played through the doubles round. The redshirt sophomore was originally slated to play in the No. 1 singles slot but dropped out before the round began, moving the rest of the roster up a singles position.
Two hours later, Liberty responded with an impressive outing against Longwood. Doubles dominated with a clean sweep before the Lady Flames earned three straight victories to clinch the 4-0 sweep. Freshman Celina Joseph, who joined the team earlier this month, secured her first-ever Liberty triumph. Radulova and Chen each earned their second singles victories of the day.
A total of four freshmen made their spring season debuts. Radulova led all players with four triumphs, Chen secured three victories including two singles wins and Joseph secured a singles match. Anika Lemus went 2-0 in doubles, playing alongside Radulova.
Elon 4, Liberty 3
Singles Competition
1. Yu-Yun Chen (LIBERTYW) def. Simone Bergeron (EU) 6-4, 6-0
2. Yoanna Radulova (LIBERTYW) def. Helen Sarikulaya (EU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
3. Heidi Bulger (EU) def. Maria Turchetto (LIBERTYW) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Mariana Reding (EU) def. Sadie Daavettila (LIBERTYW) 6-3, 7-5
5. Madison Cordisco (EU) def. Anika Lemus (LIBERTYW) 7-5, 6-1
6. Lisa Kranec (EU) def. Celina Joseph (LIBERTYW) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. Daniella O'Neill/Maria Turchetto (LIBERTYW) def. Miray Konar/Helen Sarikulaya (EU) 6-4
2. Mariana Reding/Simone Bergeron (EU) def. Yu-Yun Chen/Sadie Daavettila (LIBERTYW) 6-4
3. Yoanna Radulova/Anika Lemus (LIBERTYW) def. Ella Suk/Lisa Kranec (EU) 6-4
Match Notes:
Elon 1-0
Liberty 0-1
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,6,4,5,3,2)
Liberty 4, Longwood 0
Singles Competition
1. Daniella O'Neill (LIBERTYW) vs. VAN EIJKELENBURG,F (LU) 5-7, 2-3, unfinished
2. Yu-Yun Chen (LIBERTYW) def. RIZVANOVA,Karina (LU) 6-3, 6-0
3. Yoanna Radulova (LIBERTYW) def. IZARRA,Oriana (LU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Sadie Daavettila (LIBERTYW) vs. MITCHELL,Phoebe (LU) 4-6, 3-4, unfinished
5. Anika Lemus (LIBERTYW) vs. GNILOZUBOVA,E (LU) 7-5, 3-1, unfinished
6. Celina Joseph (LIBERTYW) def. MAGIA,Alexandra (LU) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles Competition
1. Daniella O'Neill/Maria Turchetto (LIBERTYW) def. RIZVANOVA,Karina/MITCHELL,Phoebe (LU) 6-2
2. Sadie Daavettila/Yu-Yun Chen (LIBERTYW) def. MAGIA,Alexandra/VAN EIJKELENBURG,F (LU) 6-4
3. Anika Lemus/Yoanna Radulova (LIBERTYW) def. IZARRA,Oriana/GNILOZUBOVA,E (LU) 6-3
Match Notes:
Longwood 0-1
Liberty 1-1
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,2,3)
T-2:09
Behind the Box Score:
Up Next
Liberty prepares for a challenging road test at Clemson (1-0) on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Lady Flames look to secure its first-ever victory over an ACC opponent.
The Lady Flames began the day with a solid doubles round against Elon, but managed just two singles victories to conclude the match. Freshmen Chen and Radulova each secured their first career spring singles triumphs. Liberty owned a 2-0 lead after Chen's victory before Elon rattled off four consecutive victories to cinch the match at 4-2. Liberty's Daniella O'Neill fell ill prior to the match but played through the doubles round. The redshirt sophomore was originally slated to play in the No. 1 singles slot but dropped out before the round began, moving the rest of the roster up a singles position.
Two hours later, Liberty responded with an impressive outing against Longwood. Doubles dominated with a clean sweep before the Lady Flames earned three straight victories to clinch the 4-0 sweep. Freshman Celina Joseph, who joined the team earlier this month, secured her first-ever Liberty triumph. Radulova and Chen each earned their second singles victories of the day.
A total of four freshmen made their spring season debuts. Radulova led all players with four triumphs, Chen secured three victories including two singles wins and Joseph secured a singles match. Anika Lemus went 2-0 in doubles, playing alongside Radulova.
Elon 4, Liberty 3
Singles Competition
1. Yu-Yun Chen (LIBERTYW) def. Simone Bergeron (EU) 6-4, 6-0
2. Yoanna Radulova (LIBERTYW) def. Helen Sarikulaya (EU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
3. Heidi Bulger (EU) def. Maria Turchetto (LIBERTYW) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Mariana Reding (EU) def. Sadie Daavettila (LIBERTYW) 6-3, 7-5
5. Madison Cordisco (EU) def. Anika Lemus (LIBERTYW) 7-5, 6-1
6. Lisa Kranec (EU) def. Celina Joseph (LIBERTYW) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. Daniella O'Neill/Maria Turchetto (LIBERTYW) def. Miray Konar/Helen Sarikulaya (EU) 6-4
2. Mariana Reding/Simone Bergeron (EU) def. Yu-Yun Chen/Sadie Daavettila (LIBERTYW) 6-4
3. Yoanna Radulova/Anika Lemus (LIBERTYW) def. Ella Suk/Lisa Kranec (EU) 6-4
Match Notes:
Elon 1-0
Liberty 0-1
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,6,4,5,3,2)
Liberty 4, Longwood 0
Singles Competition
1. Daniella O'Neill (LIBERTYW) vs. VAN EIJKELENBURG,F (LU) 5-7, 2-3, unfinished
2. Yu-Yun Chen (LIBERTYW) def. RIZVANOVA,Karina (LU) 6-3, 6-0
3. Yoanna Radulova (LIBERTYW) def. IZARRA,Oriana (LU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Sadie Daavettila (LIBERTYW) vs. MITCHELL,Phoebe (LU) 4-6, 3-4, unfinished
5. Anika Lemus (LIBERTYW) vs. GNILOZUBOVA,E (LU) 7-5, 3-1, unfinished
6. Celina Joseph (LIBERTYW) def. MAGIA,Alexandra (LU) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles Competition
1. Daniella O'Neill/Maria Turchetto (LIBERTYW) def. RIZVANOVA,Karina/MITCHELL,Phoebe (LU) 6-2
2. Sadie Daavettila/Yu-Yun Chen (LIBERTYW) def. MAGIA,Alexandra/VAN EIJKELENBURG,F (LU) 6-4
3. Anika Lemus/Yoanna Radulova (LIBERTYW) def. IZARRA,Oriana/GNILOZUBOVA,E (LU) 6-3
Match Notes:
Longwood 0-1
Liberty 1-1
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,2,3)
T-2:09
Behind the Box Score:
- Head Coach Dash Connell begins his Liberty tenure with a 1-1 mark. Connell secured 11 total championships across 13 seasons leading Tyler Junior College (Texas).
- O'Neill played her first-ever match in the No. 1 singles position. Her lone singles match against Longwood went unfinished.
- Maria Turchetto and O'Neill improved to 10-5 in doubles together across the fall and spring seasons.
Up Next
Liberty prepares for a challenging road test at Clemson (1-0) on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Lady Flames look to secure its first-ever victory over an ACC opponent.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3,1
#1 Singles Match
12
Simone Bergeron / 0 [EU]
40
66
#2 Singles Match
123
Helen Sarikulaya / 0 [EU]
462
646
#3 Singles Match
123
Heidi Bulger / 0 [EU]
166
633
#4 Singles Match
12
Mariana Reding / 0 [EU]
67
35
#5 Singles Match
12
Madison Cordisco / 0 [EU]
76
51
#6 Singles Match
12
Lisa Kranec / 0 [EU]
66
22
Order of Finish:
1,6,4,5,3,2
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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