LAKE NONA, Fla. – No. 4 Rhode Island's season came to an end, as the Rams fell 4-1 to fifth-seeded VCU in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Atlantic 10 Women's Tennis Championship Friday morning.

The action was intense from the start, as all three doubles matches went to a super-set tiebreaker. Rhode Island (15-6) held match point in both the No. 1 and No. 2 matches, but VCU (12-10) was able to rally in both to grab the doubles point. At No. 3 doubles, URI's tandem of Klara Nelander and Sophie Herrman battled back from a 4-0 deficit and led 3-1 in the tie breaker before doubles action was halted.

VCU took the point at No. 2 singles when Tania Isabel Sabando Andrade defeated Herrman. Rhody's Katharina Spieth got the Rams back within a point when she won at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-3.

Unfortunately, Rhody dropped the first set in each of the singles matches from No. 2 through No. 5 and was unable to dig out of the hole. VCU won at No. 4 and No. 5 singles to clinch the match and advance to the semifinals.

When action was stopped, Nikki Fernando led her match at No. 3 singles, 4-6, 6-0, 2-1. At No. 6 singles, Nelander was on the verge of evening her match, which was 3-6, 5-3 when play ended. At No. 4 singles, URI's Grace Darcy was down 6-4, 5-2 and managed to flight back and get within 5-4 in the second set. However, VCU's Lea Malazdra held off the rally attempt and secured the team victory.

"It was a tough loss today, but we are very proud of this team and everything we have accomplished this year," Rhode Island head coach Jonas Brobeck said. "Congratulations to VCU. They played to win in the big moments of the match."

Rhode Island ended the season with 15 victories, tying for the second most wins in a season in program history.

#5 VCU 4, #4 Rhode Island 1
Singles
Katharina Spieth (URI) def. Sofia Jane Thorne (VCU); 6-1, 6-3
Tania Isabel Sabando Andrade (VCU) def. Sophie Herrman (URI); 6-0, 6-1
Nikki Fernando (URI) DNF vs. Miriam Ibrahim (VCU); 4-6, 6-0, 2-1, DNF
Lea Malazdra (VCU) def. Grace Darcy (URI); 6-4, 6-4
Yelizaveta Karlova (VCU) def. Anastasia Pettersson (URI); 6-1, 6-3
Klara Nelander (URI) vs. Sara Alba (VCU); 3-6, 5-3, DNF

Doubles
Tania Isabel Sabando Andrade / Mariam Ibrahim (VCU) def. Nikki Fernando / Katharina Spieth (URI); 7-6 (3)
Sofia Jane Thorne/Lea Malazdra (VCU) def. Grace Darcy/Anastasia Pettersson (URI); 7-6 (3)
Klara Nelander/Sophie Herrman (URI) DNF vs. Yelizaveta Karlova/Andrea Magallanes (VCU); 6-6, DNF