MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The No. 6 Liberty Flames defeated No. 4 Delaware on Saturday morning in the final match of the Conference USA Women’s Tennis Championship for their first conference title in program history.
 
Liberty got off to a strong start, claiming the doubles point to take an immediate 1-0 advantage. The Flames were unrelenting from there with Milana Tsulygina taking the first singles point on court four (6-3, 6-1), followed by a court-six win from Anika Lemus (6-2, 6-4). The clinching point was won by Maria Turchetto who documented a 6-3, 6-3 victory on court two.
 
As the sixth seed in the tournament, the Flames are the lowest seeded team to win a CUSA championship title since 2006 when No. 7 Rice upset No. 1 SMU to win it all.
 
With the win, the Flames have claimed an automatic bid for the NCAA Women’s Tennis Championship. For all qualifiers, the DI Women’s Tennis Selection Show is scheduled for Monday, April 27. The NCAA Championships will take place May 14-18 in Athens, Georgia.  
 
CUSA Women’s Tennis Championship Central
 
Championship Match 10 – Saturday, April 18
(6) Liberty 4, (4) Delaware 0
Box Score (PDF)
 
Doubles  
No. 1: Yoanna Radulova/Marie Turchetto (LU) def. Maryia Hrynashka/Paulina Jurkowska (UD) 6-1
No. 2: Daniella O’Neill Garcia/Milana Tsulygina (LU) def. Navya Vadlamudi/Amelia Gorman 6-2
No. 3: Candy Wai/Anika Lemus (LU) vs. Katie Dollens/Lara Russinello (UD) 4-3, unfinished

Singles  
No. 1: Maryia Hrynashka (UD) vs. Daniella O’Neill Garcia (LU) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
No. 2: Marie Turchetto (LU) def. Paulina Jurkowska (UD) 6-3, 6-3
No. 3: Amelia Gorman (UD) vs. Yoanna Radulova (LU) 7-5, 1-5, unfinished
No. 4: Milana Tsulygina (LU) def. Lara Russiniello (UD) 6-3, 6-1
No. 5: Navya Vadlamudi (UD) vs. Celina Joseph (LU) 7-6 (9-7), 5-1
No. 6: Anika Lemus (LU) def. Hana Vinahradava (UD) 6-2, 6-4

Match Notes:  
6-seed Liberty (16-9)
4-seed Delaware (21-5)
Order of finish: Doubles (1-2); Singles (4-6-2)