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Firebirds Defeat Spartans, 5-2, in Conference Play
Posted: Oct 23, 2025

Firebirds Defeat Spartans, 5-2, in Conference Play

Box Score
Team Stats
Doubles
  • Polina Zelentsova / Célia Bastin def. Kateryna Kryuchkova / Zhuoxan Sun 6-3
  • Mar Caneves Bufi / Shreethika Vangala def. Lina Benjelloun / Nadja Zmukic 6-0
  • Monica Martinez Blucher / Chanelle Russell def. No Player / No player
Singles
  • Polina Zelentsova def. Kateryna Kryuchkova 0-6, 6-2, 7-5
  • Célia Bastin def. Mar Caneves Bufi 4-6, 6-1, 7-5
  • Lina Benjelloun def. Zhuoxan Sun 7-6, 6-5, 0-3
  • Sofiia Shaparenko def. Shreethika Vangala 6-2, 6-2
  • Nadja Zmukic def. Monica Martinez Blucher 6-0, 6-0
  • Chanelle Russell def. No Player

SPARKHILL, N.Y.- The University of the District of Columbia women's tennis team earned a key East Coast Conference victory on Saturday afternoon, defeating St. Thomas Aquinas College 5–2 on the rooad to improve to 4–2 overall and 2–1 in ECC play.

The Firebirds battled through early adversity, splitting the doubles matches to begin the day. The duo of Célia Bastin and Polina Zelentsova earned a 6–3 win at the top flight, while St. Thomas Aquinas claimed victories at No. 2 and No. 3 to secure the doubles point.

UDC responded in dominant fashion during singles play, winning five of six matches to seal the team victory.

At No. 1 singles, Polina Zelentsova once again rallied from a first-set loss to defeat Kateryna Kryuchkova 0–6, 6–2, 7–5. Teammate Célia Bastin followed suit at No. 2 with a hard-fought comeback win over Mar Caneves Bufi, 4–6, 6–1, 7–5.

Lina Benjelloun earned a straight-sets victory at No. 3, edging Zhuoxan Sun 7–6(5), 6–3, while Sofiia Shaparenko powered past Shreethika Vangala 6–2, 6–2 at No. 4. Nadja Zmukic completed the Firebird sweep in the lower lineup with a commanding 6–0, 6–0 win over Monica Martinez Blucher at No. 5 singles.

The Firebirds will close out the fall season tomorrow (October 24) with another conference matchup, traveling to face Queens College in Flushing, N.Y.

Doubles

1. Bastin/Zelentsova def. Kryuchkova/Sun (STAC) 6-3
2. Caneves Bufi/Vangala (STAC) def. Benjelloun/Zmukic 6-0
3. Martinez Blucher/Russell (STAC) def. default
 
Singles
1. Polina Zelentsova def. Kateryna Kryuchkova (STAC) 0-6, 6-2, 7-5
2. Célia Bastin def. Mar Caneves Bufi (STAC) 4-6, 6-1, 7-5
3. Lina Benjelloun def. Zhuoxan Sun (STAC) 7-6(5), 6-3
4. Sofiia Shaparenko def. Shreethika Vangala (STAC) 6-2, 6-2
5. Nadja Zmukic def. Monica Martinez Blucher (STAC) 6-0, 6-0
6. Chanelle Russell (STAC) def. default
 
UDC - 5
STAC - 2
 
Order of Completion
Doubles: 3, 2*, 1
Singles: 6, 4, 3, 5, 1*, 2