GENEVA, N.Y. – Cristina Nunez of the Ithaca College women's tennis team finished second at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northeast Regionals following a back-and-forth three-set championship match Monday afternoon. Nunez dropped the final against Brittany LaBruna of William Paterson 7-5, 6-2, 7-5. The second-place finish for Nunez marked the highest-ever finish for an Ithaca College women's tennis player or doubles team at the ITA Regionals.

In the championship match, Nunez picked up an early break and eventually led 4-1 in the first set before LaBruna rallied back with a break and tied the set 4-4. Nunez held for 5-4, but LaBruna won the last three games of the set. Nunez was strong in the second set, getting a break on LaBruna's first service game, another at 4-2, and then served out the second set to win 6-2.

The back-and-forth swings continued in the third set. An early break turned into a 4-1 lead for LaBruna. After two holds from Nunez and one from LaBruna, the William Paterson-player had a chance to serve out the match at 5-3, but Nunez broke serve to stay alive. Nunez then held for 5-5, and LaBruna held to lead 6-5. Nunez was then broken and LaBruna claimed the regional title.

In Monday morning's semifinal, Nunez won a straight-set match over Yuliya Orkis of Brooklyn College 6-3, 6-4. Nunez earned a first-set break to go up 4-2, then held serve to take a 5-2 lead. Orkis then held serve and Nunez closed out the first set with a hold. In the second set, Nunez fell behind a break and served at 1-4, then held and broke to get back on serve. After Nunez held serve for 4-4, she picked up another break and then served it out for the 6-4 second set. Nunez won the last five games to advance to the finals.

In Sunday's action in the round of 16, Nunez beat Emily Hallewell of Vassar 6-4, 6-0. She went on to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Melissa Hirsch of Skidmore in the quarterfinal round.

In the first round on Saturday, Nunez defeated Georgia Comber of St. Lawrence 6-1, 6-1 and then beat Amanda Rosati of Geneseo 6-1, 6-3 in the second round.

Allison Vizgaitis and Haley Kusak also advanced to the second round of the singles bracket. Kusak came from behind to win 3-6, 6-4, 10-5 over Christine Ho of Rochester and Vizgaitis defeated Emma Allen of The College of New Jersey 7-6 (8-6), 6-1. Both Ithaca players were knocked out in the second round by seeded players.

In doubles play, the team of Vizgaitis and Marni Blumenthal won a first-round match 9-7 over Ashley Lyon and Hannah More of William Smith. In the second round, the Ithaca duo was ousted 8-6 by Ashley Masanto and Alison Wang of NYU.

Fans can follow tournament updates throughout the weekend at the results page hosted by William Smith.

SINGLES RESULTS

First Round (Saturday)
Cristina Nunez (IC) def. Georgia Comber (SLU) 6-1, 6-1
Haley Kusak (IC) def. Christine Ho (UR) 3-6, 6-4, 10-5
Allison Vizgaitis (IC) def. Emma Allen (TCNJ) 7-6 (8-6), 6-1
Janice Zhao (UR) def. Carly Siegel (IC) 7-5, 6-1

Second Round (Saturday)
Cristina Nunez (IC) def. Amanda Rosati (GEN) 6-1, 6-3
Katie Buchbinder (TCNJ) def. Haley Kusak (IC) 6-3, 6-1
Elkie Vandenbeemt (SLU) def. Allison Vizgaitis (IC) 6-0, 6-0

Round of 16 (Sunday)
Cristina Nunez (IC) def. Emily Hallewell (VAS) 6-4, 6-0

Quarterfinals(Sunday)
Cristina Nunez (IC) def. Melissa Hirsch (SKD) 6-0, 6-0

Semifinals (Monday)
Cristina Nunez (IC) def. Yuliya Orkis (BRK) 6-3, 6-4

Championship (Monday)
Brittany LaBruna (WP) def. Cristina Nunez (IC) 7-5, 2-6, 7-5


Consolation Singles
Carly Siegel (IC) def. Ayaka Yoshino (ELM) 8-2
Mari Tzakis (NYU) def. Carly Siegel (IC) 8-3

DOUBLES RESULTS

First Round (Saturday)
Antelo/Bjork (RIT) def. Nunez/Kusak (IC) 8-6
Vizgaitis/Young (IC) def. Lyon/More (WS) 9-7

Second Round (Saturday)
Masanto/Wang (NYU) def. Vizgaitis/Young (IC) 8-6


Consolation Doubles
Nunez/Kusak (IC) def. Zhao/Zickar (UR) 8-0
Nunez/Kusak (IC) def. (BARD) 8-0
Nunez/Kusak (IC) def. Munro/Tracy (NP) 8-6
Lyon/More (WS) def. Nunez/Kusak (IC) 9-7