JCSU Women's Tennis Advances to CIAA Championship Match After Defeating Virginia State, 5-2

Bowie, Md. (April 20, 2018) – The second-seeded Johnson C. Smith University women's tennis team kept their hopes for a CIAA Championship alive by downing third-seeded Virginia State 5-2 in the semifinals of the CIAA Tennis Championship in Bowie, Md. on Friday afternoon.

In doubles matches, VSU grabbed the 2-1 lead on JCSU, taking the No. 1 and No. 2 matches. JCSU dropped the No. 1 match by an 8-2 count and the No. 2 match 8-6.

The team of Kaylin Roman (Atlanta, Ga.) and Cierra Turner (Richmond, Va.) claimed their match at No. 3 by an 8-6 score.

In singles matches, JCSU took four matches with Rayven Todd (Atlanta, Ga.) downing her opponent at No. 4 by a 6-1, 6-1 count.  At no 5, Turner was able to triumph over her VSU opponent 6-2, 6-1 while
Jada Strickland (Miamisburg, Ohio) clinched the match at No. 3 singles with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 win, sending the Golden Bulls to the CIAA Championship match.

JCSU will take on top-seeded Shaw University on Saturday for the CIAA Title.

Tennis Match Results
Virginia State University vs Johnson C. Smith
Apr 20, 2018 at Bowie, Md.
(BSU Tennis Courts)

Johnson C. Smith 5, Virginia State University 2

Singles competition
1. YAO,Sydney (VSU-W) vs. Halle PARKER (JCSU-W) no result
2. Aria SPRINGFIELD (JCSU-W) def. WASHINGTON,Christina (VSU-W) 6-4, 6-4
3. Jada STRICKLAND (JCSU-W) def. RICHARDSON,Tamisha (VSU-W) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. Rayven TODD (JCSU-W) def. TUCKER,Felicia (VSU-W) 6-1, 6-1
5. Cierra TURNER (JCSU-W) def. LOVITT,Deja (VSU-W) 6-2, 6-1
6. WASHINGTON,Charde (VSU-W) vs. Kaylin ROMAN (JCSU-W) no result
Doubles competition
1. YAO,Sydney/RICHARDSON,Tamisha (VSU-W) def. Halle PARKER/Jada STRICKLAND (JCSU-W) 8-2
2. TUCKER,Felicia/WASHINGTON,Christina (VSU-W) def. Aria SPRINGFIELD/Rayven TODD (JCSU-W) 8-6
3. Kaylin ROMAN/Cierra TURNER (JCSU-W) def. LOVITT,Deja/KEARNEY,Katlyn (VSU-W) 8-6
Match Notes:
Virginia State University 12-5
Johnson C. Smith 16-10
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,5,3)
JCSU advances to CIAA Women's Tennis Championship Match vs. Winner of WSSU/Shaw