MIAMI SHORES, Fla. --
Isabel Rapisarda Calvo came to Barry knowing she may have only one semester of college tennis.
Tuesday, on a day she was feeling under the weather, Rapisarda Calvo shined bright in helping Barry University's No. 2-ranked women's tennis team beat No. 11 Valdosta State, 5-0, to win the NCAA Division II South Region Championship at Buccaneer Tennis Center. Rapisarda Calvo, a senior transfer from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, sent the Bucs to the NCAA Championships with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Sabrina Schmidt at No. 4 singles to clinch the title.
"The feeling is great," said Rapisarda Calvo, who is ranked 21st in the country in singles. "This is the first time I played here in college tennis, and probably the last time, so I'm very happy that I did this. I really like this team, and I'm very happy about it."
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Barry 5, Valdosta State 0
Records: Barry 26-0, Valdosta St. 17-7
SUMMARY:
- Rapisarda Calvo and Verena Schmid cruised past Laura Ubeda and Estes Widdershoven, 8-1, at No. 1 doubles for Barry's first point.
- Zuza Maciejewska and Dasha Salnikova extended the lead to 2-0 when they finished off Anja Cosovic, 8-5, at No. 2 doubles.
- Ana Pain and Sonja Larsen, who are ranked No. 4 in the country, sent the Buccaneers into singles with a 3-Love lead after defeating Bea Morales and Anke Poncelet at the top position.
- Larsen, who is ranked 16th in the South Region, extended Barry's lead to 4-0 after rolling over Poncelet, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 5 singles.
- Rapisarda Calvo sealed the deal with the Bucs' clinching fifth point.
- Bucs senior Karina Goia won her first set with Daniela Barta, 7-6 (7-4), at No. 6 singles before the match ended.
- Schmid, who owns the No. 33 national singles ranking, won the opening set with Ubeda, 6-4, at the No. 3 position. They were tied at 2-2 in the second set.
- Salnikova, the 11th-ranked player in the country, led Cosovic, 6-4, 3-1, at No. 2 singles.
- Maciejewska, who is ranked 26th, was tied with ninth-ranked Morales, 6-6, in the opening set.
NOTEWORTHY:
- Barry won its 12 region title, and move on to the NCAA Division II Championships for the 21st time in the women's tennis program's history.
- Rapisarda Calvo and Schmid were playing their first doubles match together since March 10. Salnikova and Maciejewska were also paired together for the first time since that date -- a 5-1 win at Armstrong State.
- Head coach Avi Kigel has directed the Bucs to seven regional titles.
- Larsen moved within one win of tying Gizella Turbok's school record for singles victories in a season. Larsen has 24 wins this year. Turbok had 25 wins in both the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
- Maciejewska's doubles victory moved her to the top of the career pairs winning percentage list at .913.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
"I think we have a great team. All the girls are great players. I think we are all very motivated to do this. It would be great if we win everything."
-- Senior Isabel Rapisarda Calvo
ON THE HORIZON:
Barry will meet 14th-ranked Drury in the NCAA Championships Round of 16 at noon Wednesday, May 10 at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
BOX SCORE
NCAA BRACKET