Women's Tennis | 5/22/2024 4:42:00 PM

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla.—After advancing to the NCAA Semifinals for the 16th time, the top-ranked Barry Buccaneers will face #8 Midwestern State in the Women's Tennis National Tournament on Thursday morning at the NCAA Division II Spring Sports Festival,

Women's Tennis - Thursday, May 23, 9:00 am; Sanlando Park

The Bucs, six-time defending national champions, are 22-4 on the season, with wins this season at both the ITA Indoor Championship and the Sunshine State Conference Tournament. They are playing in the NCAA Semifinals for the seventh-straight year, 16 overall, tied for second-most in NCAA history. They advanced at the tournament with a 4-0 win over the St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans on Monday and 4-0 win over Nebraska-Kearney on Tuesday.

The Bucs boast three players and one doubles team featured in the ITA Rankings. Alina Michalitsch, who plays in the top flight, is ranked 38th nationally. She is 14-5 on the season, including a 7-2 mark at No. 1. She provided the clinching point in the Round of 16 match with St. Thomas Aquinas. Viktoriia Dema is ranked No. 38 playing in the second slot. She is 17-4 on the season, including 8-3 at number two. She has won both of her singles matches at the Festival. Clara Versier, who has won 34 consecutive singles matches, is ranked 70th. She has a 17-0 mark for the Bucs this year, including 7-0 at number six, her usual spot in the lineup. She also has won both her singles matches in Altamonte Springs. 

In doubles, The pair of Dema and Dinara Alloiarova are ranked 34th. Playing together all spring, the pair has posted an 19-4 mark, including a 6-2 record since moving up to the top flight. On Tuesday, they took down the team from Nebraska-Kearney 6-0 after the 'Lopers beat the top team from Azusa Pacific on Monday 7-6(5). They also won in the opener against STAC.

The Mustangs are 22-4 this season, having beaten Queens 5-0 on Monday to advance to the quarterfinals, then bumped off the fourth-seeded Wingate Bulldogs in a 4-3 thriller on Tuesday to make the semifinals for the first time in program history. 

The Mustangs have three ranked singles players and one doubles pair. Jessica Binzari is ranked 14th, Anda Ghinga is 31st  while Hannah Yip clocks in at number 41. Binzari is 14-9 this season, all coming at No. 1, with five losses to nationally ranked opponents. Ghinga is 23-2 this spring, with two wins in the Festival. She is 13-2 at No. 2. Yip is 19-5, including a 12-0 mark at No. 3, and has won 13 straight matches. 

In doubles, Binzari and Ghinga are ranked #21. The pair are 15-8 this spring, including 14-8 at number one doubles. They have split their matches at the Festival, beating Queens in the opening round, but falling 6-3 to Wingate in the quarterfinals.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Barry has dropped the doubles point in seven matches this spring, but has rebounded to win in five of them. 
• Midwestern State has dropped the doubles point 11 times this year, winning eight of the matches.
• Barry is 2-0 all-time against the Mustangs.
• In 2005, the two schools met in Altamonte Springs, and the Buccaneers prevailed, 5-0, in the round of 16. Barry defeated the Mustangs, 5-0, in the round of 16 at the national tournament in Surprise, Arizona in 2013.
• Barry has faced 10 Top-10 teams this season, winning nine of the matches on the court.
• Midwestern State has played three Top-10 teams this season, winning all three.
• This is the farthest advance for the Mustangs in their NCAA Tournament history.
• The winner of the match will face the winner of the #3 North Georga vs. #2 Nova Southeastern in the championship on Friday.