MIDLAND, Mich. -- The first-seeded Wayne State University women's tennis team (12-0 overall, 9-0 GLIAC) swept No. 2-seed Grand Valley State (10-2 overall, 8-1 GLIAC), 4-0, in the 2019 GLIAC Tournament finals on Saturday.

This is the second consecutive year that WSU has been crowned GLIAC Tournament champions and Wayne State's third tournament title for women's tennis under the league's current format.  WSU won seven league titles in an eight-year span from 1975-79 and 1980-82 when the regular season and tournament were combined into one championship team.

DOUBLES RESULTS

Juniors Teodora Radu (Ramnicu Valcea, Romania) and Khadija Da-Silva (Burlington, Ont.) notched a 6-3 victory over Marija Leko and Taylor Barrett at No. 2 doubles.

At No. 3 doubles, junior Irena van Meer (Amsterdam, Netherlands) and freshman Sabrina Laynes (Saginaw, Mich. / Heritage) won their match 6-3 versus Agata Szewczuk and Liv Hanover.

Sophomore Laura Cazacu (London, England) and junior Linda Liong (Tanjung Kidurong, Malaysia) had an unfinished No. 1 doubles match vs. Vera Griva and Marily Cannellopoulos.

SINGLES RESULTS

After being down in the third set vs. Leko, co-captain Liong stayed tough in her No. 2 singles match to close it out for the Green and Gold and secure the Wayne State victory (4-6, 6-2, 6-4).

"Linda has come so far and grown so much as a person and a player since her freshman year," commented head coach Sheila Snyder.  "She was really able to show her leadership with this team in order to help bring us a victory."

At No. 5 singles, Laynes tallied a win versus Hanover (6-4, 6-2).

Sophomore Carla Jewell (Hobart, Ind.) nearly blanked Szewczuk at No. 6 singles (6-1, 6-0).

Cazacu, Da-Silva, and Radu all had unfinished matches before WSU clinched the win.

FROM COACH SNYDER

"Northwood and Grand Valley State really challenged us in doubles, but we were able to secure that point," stated Snyder.  "The doubles point is very critical, and we were able to get that point all year.  This weekend when we were challenged, our doubles teams were clutch and able to come through when we needed it the most.  Everybody stepped up this weekend, and we were mentally ready.  Our energy was unmatched and that helped carry us through.  This shows the great team support that we all have for one another.

"Overall, it was an all-around amazing, fun year.  I credit the girls for how hard they have worked both on and off the court since August in order for us to get to this point.  Lastly, a big shout-out to the Wayne State football team on their victory at Northwood and for bringing the noise to the tennis center."

UP NEXT

The Warriors will receive an automatic qualifying bid into the 2020 NCAA Women's Tennis Tournament.