University of Richmond Athletics
Thursday, April 23
Orlando, Fla.
7 p.m.
University of Richmond
4
vs
1
No. 6 Rhode Island
Spiders Advance to Fourth Straight A-10 Semifinal with Win Over Rhode Island
04/23/2026 | Women's Tennis
ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Richmond women's tennis team opened postseason play with a 4-1 victory over No. 6 Rhode Island Thursday night in the Atlantic 10 Championship quarterfinals at the USTA National Campus. With the win, the No. 3 seeded Spiders improve to 11-10 on the season and advance to the semifinal round for the fourth consecutive year.
How It Happened
Rhode Island claimed the doubles point with wins on courts two and three, edging Richmond despite a strong 7-5 victory from Sofia Barbulescu and Lara Bakhaya on court one.
The Spiders responded in singles with a dominant showing, securing four straight-set victories to clinch the match.
Lainey O'Neil quickly put Richmond on the board with a 6-1, 6-1 win on court six, followed by Abby Lee matching that scoreline with a commanding victory on court four to give the Spiders a 2-1 advantage.
Bakhaya extended the lead on court two, defeating Nikki Fernando 6-4, 6-3, before Barbulescu sealed the match with a 7-5, 6-2 win at the top spot.
With the match decided, play was halted on the remaining courts, where Elizabeth Novak led 6-4, 4-3 on court three and Lucy Webber held a 6-2, 1-6, 3-2 edge on court five.
Tennis Match Results
Richmond 4, Rhode Island 1
April 23, 2026 | Orlando, Fla.
USTA National Campus
Richmond 4, Rhode Island 1
Doubles competition
Match Notes
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (6, 4, 2, 1)
Richmond advances to the A-10 semifinal round for the fourth straight season.
Updated Spring Records
Singles
Sofia Barbulescu 8-9
Lara Bakhaya 3-3
Elizabeth Novak 4-15
Beatriz Guerra 7-10
Abby Lee 11-9
Lucy Webber 11-7
Lainey O'Neil 10-7
Daniela O'Leary 1-0
Doubles
Barbulescu/Bakhaya 3-4
Novak/O'Neil 1-4
Webber/Guerra 0-2
Barbulescu/Guerra 0-0
Lee/Webber 1-1
Barbulescu/Novak 0-1
Guerra/Lee 3-3
Lee/Barbulescu 2-4
O'Neil/Webber 3-4
O'Leary/Novak 0-2
Novak/Walsh 0-1
Guerra/Novak 1-3
Barbulescu/Webber 1-1
Novak/Webber 1-3
Bakhaya/Webber 1-0
O'Leary/Walsh 1-0
Up Next
Richmond advances to face No. 2 seed VCU in the Atlantic 10 semifinal on Friday, April 24 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.
How It Happened
Rhode Island claimed the doubles point with wins on courts two and three, edging Richmond despite a strong 7-5 victory from Sofia Barbulescu and Lara Bakhaya on court one.
The Spiders responded in singles with a dominant showing, securing four straight-set victories to clinch the match.
Lainey O'Neil quickly put Richmond on the board with a 6-1, 6-1 win on court six, followed by Abby Lee matching that scoreline with a commanding victory on court four to give the Spiders a 2-1 advantage.
Bakhaya extended the lead on court two, defeating Nikki Fernando 6-4, 6-3, before Barbulescu sealed the match with a 7-5, 6-2 win at the top spot.
With the match decided, play was halted on the remaining courts, where Elizabeth Novak led 6-4, 4-3 on court three and Lucy Webber held a 6-2, 1-6, 3-2 edge on court five.
Tennis Match Results
Richmond 4, Rhode Island 1
April 23, 2026 | Orlando, Fla.
USTA National Campus
Richmond 4, Rhode Island 1
Doubles competition
- Sofia Barbulescu / Lara Bakhaya (Richmond) def. Nikki Fernando / Kajsa Helgesen (Rhode Island) 7-5
- Grace Darcy / Anastasia Pettersson (Rhode Island) def. Lucy Webber / Elizabeth Novak (Richmond) 7-6 (2)
- Sophie Herrman / Ava Grnja (Rhode Island) def. Beatriz Guerra / Abby Lee (Richmond) 6-4
- Sofia Barbulescu (Richmond) def. Grace Darcy (Rhode Island) 7-5, 6-2
- Lara Bakhaya (Richmond) def. Nikki Fernando (Rhode Island) 6-4, 6-3
- Elizabeth Novak (Richmond) vs. Sophie Herrman (Rhode Island) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
- Abby Lee (Richmond) def. Kajsa Helgesen (Rhode Island) 6-1, 6-1
- Lucy Webber (Richmond) vs. Miruna Scarlat (Rhode Island) 6-2, 1-6, 3-2, unfinished
- Lainey O'Neil (Richmond) def. Anastasia Pettersson (Rhode Island) 6-1, 6-1
Match Notes
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (6, 4, 2, 1)
Richmond advances to the A-10 semifinal round for the fourth straight season.
Updated Spring Records
Singles
Sofia Barbulescu 8-9
Lara Bakhaya 3-3
Elizabeth Novak 4-15
Beatriz Guerra 7-10
Abby Lee 11-9
Lucy Webber 11-7
Lainey O'Neil 10-7
Daniela O'Leary 1-0
Doubles
Barbulescu/Bakhaya 3-4
Novak/O'Neil 1-4
Webber/Guerra 0-2
Barbulescu/Guerra 0-0
Lee/Webber 1-1
Barbulescu/Novak 0-1
Guerra/Lee 3-3
Lee/Barbulescu 2-4
O'Neil/Webber 3-4
O'Leary/Novak 0-2
Novak/Walsh 0-1
Guerra/Novak 1-3
Barbulescu/Webber 1-1
Novak/Webber 1-3
Bakhaya/Webber 1-0
O'Leary/Walsh 1-0
Up Next
Richmond advances to face No. 2 seed VCU in the Atlantic 10 semifinal on Friday, April 24 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3,2
#1 Singles Match
12
Grace Darcy / 0 [URI]
52
76
#2 Singles Match
12
Nikki Fernando / 0 [URI]
43
66
#3 Singles Match
123
Sophie Herrman / 0 [URI]
43UF
64UF
#4 Singles Match
12
Kajsa Helgesen / 0 [URI]
11
66
#5 Singles Match
1234
Miruna Scarlat / 0 [URI]
262UF
613UF
#6 Singles Match
12
Anastasia Pettersson / 0 [URI]
11
66
Order of Finish:
6,4,2,1
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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