Univ. of Nebraska (Lincoln) Team Page
Urbana, Ill. - Nebraska's Mary Weatherholt earned a date with history, powering to a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Alexa Guarachi in the semifinals of the NCAA Women's Tennis Singles Championship Sunday at the Atkins Indoor Tennis Center.
The All-American Weatherholt, who entered the tournament ranked 11th nationally, quickly dispatched the No. 36 Guarachi from Alabama to earn Nebraska's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Singles title match. Weatherholt, a senior from Prairie Village, Kan., swept Guarachi 6-0 in the first set before rolling to a 6-3 win in the second set. Weatherholt has dropped just one set in five matches at the NCAA Championships.
"It was just another amazing day for Mary," Nebraska Associate Head Coach Hayden Perez said. "Her approach to the match was the same as each day of the tournament, and she came out very focused and determined from the beginning."
Weatherholt's victory earned her a matchup with defending NCAA champion Nicole Gibbs on Monday at noon. The junior from Stanford, who was ranked No. 13 nationally entering the tournament, cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 win over No. 31 Breaunna Addison from Texas in Sunday's other semifinal. Weatherholt and Gibbs have never met in competition.
"I think the two best players in the tournament are going to meet in the final, and that doesn't happen very often," Perez said. "It is going to be a great final, and Mary is looking forward to it."
With the victory, Weatherholt improved to 30-1 in singles on the year and 52-4 overall in combined singles and doubles matches. It was her school-record 123rd career singles victory, while she improved her career combined win total to 208.
Weatherholt at NCAA Singles Championship (5-0)
First Round (May 22)
#11 Mary Weatherholt (NEB) def. #38 Aleksandra Josifoska (UNLV), 6-4, 6-4
Second Round (May 23)
#11 Mary Weatherholt (NEB) def. #43 Klara Fabikova (Cal), 6-2, 6-1
Third Round (May 24)
#11 Mary Weatherholt (NEB) def. #3 Robin Anderson (UCLA), 6-7 (4), 6-0, 6-0
Quarterfinals (May 25)
#11 Mary Weatherholt (NEB) def. #6 Lauren Henning (Georgia), 6-2, 6-2
Semifinals (May 26)
#11 Mary Weatherholt (NEB) def. Alexa Guarachi (Alabama), 6-0, 6-3
Championship Match (May 27)
#11 Mary Weatherholt (NEB) vs. Nicole Gibbs (Stanford), Noon
