ELON, N.C.  – The College of Charleston women's tennis team advanced to the CAA Championship Semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons with a 4-0 victory over the No. 6 seed Delaware on Thursday afternoon. The Cougars win was highlighted by a come-from-behind victory in flight three doubles by seniors Sarah Zschunke and Turner Yates with three straight set wins in singles play clinching the victory.

After entering the ITA/Oracle National Doubles Rankings this week, #86 doubles pair Christi Woodson and Anastasia Palaska cruised to a 6-0 victory to open the match, Zschunke and Yates battling from 3-1 down to clinch the doubles point in a 6-4 win on court three. Clara Errard and Lily LaBiche going unfinished on court two.
 
The Cougars (15-10) continued to roll into singles play with courts one through six all winning the opening set over the Blue Hens (11-11).

Yates was first to finish on court five, dominating Tao Adetunji 6-1, 6-2, Woodson following on court one in a 6-2, 6-4, win over Viva Laas. Yates winning her third straight match on court five to move to 15-4 on the year, Woodson winning her ninth straight match in flight one to move to 17-6 on the year, 9-1 over her last 10 matches.

Palaska was next to finish, clinching a 4-0 victory for Charleston on court three. The junior sweeping past Sarah Hall of Delaware 6-2, 6-3, to end the match with Eva Nyikos leading 6-4, 4-2, on court two, Lily LaBiche level 6-1, 3-6, 1-1, on court four and Catalina Medici leading 7-6, 1-0, on court six.

With the win Charleston moves to the CAA semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons and face #2 James Madison tomorrow in a repeat of the 2018 semifinal matchup. First serve is slated for 9 a.m. at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center in Elon, N.C. with forecasted weather moving the match to the indoor facility.
 
Quote – Head coach Angelo Anastopoulo
On the win…
"It was a good win… No. 1 doubles continue to be a dominant force with a 6-0 win which is a good testament to them staying level headed after getting into the [ITA/Oracle National] rankings… I was incredibly proud of Sarah Zschunke, who was disappointed in her performance on senior day, to come out after being down 3-1 with Turner Yates and taking over the match by winning five matches in a row to clinch doubles… We started strong and got good leads in singles… Delaware showed a lot of heart and determination and fought back in the second sets and it looked like it could have gone either way, but Stas [Anastasia Palaska] did a terrific job in closing out and putting it out of Delaware's reach... Special shout-out to the men's tennis team for sticking around after a tough loss to support the women's program in our victory."

On facing JMU tomorrow…
"We played JMU a couple weeks ago at their place and lost… We had a 3-0 lead but just couldn't close it out… This match [tomorrow], if it's indoor it adds to the challenge but we're gonna look for every reason to win and definitely give it our all."
 
Results
Doubles
Palaska/Woodson (CofC) def. Whited/Jaskulsji (DEL), 6-0
Errard/LaBiche (CofC) vs Courtney/Gotkiewicz (DEL), 5-3, Unfinished
Zschunke/Yates (CofC) def. Hall/Adetunji (DEL), 6-4
Finish: 1, 3*
 
Singles
Woodson (CofC) def. Laas (DEL), 6-2, 6-4
Nyikos (CofC) vs. Courtney (DEL), 6-4, 4-2, Unfinished
Palaska (CofC) def. Hall (DEL), 6-2, 6-3
LaBiche (CofC) vs. Gotkiewicz (DEL), 6-1, 3-6, 1-1, Unfinished
Yates (CofC) def. Adetunji (DEL), 6-1, 6-2
Medici (CofC) vs. Whited (DEL), 7-6, 1-0, Unfinished
Finish: 5, 1, 3*