The fifth-seeded New York University women's tennis team defeated fourth-seeded Case Western Reserve University, 5-3, in the opening round of the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship on Thursday at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, FL.

This marks the first time NYU has won its opening match at the UAA Championship since 2007 and the first time the Violets have defeated Case Western Reserve since 2010. With the win, NYU is now guaranteed a top-four finish at the UAA Championship for the first time since 2007.

"I am so happy and proud for this team," said Head Coach Horace Choy.

The victory was not only impressive in the sense of NYU being the lower seed, but the Violets are also ranked 18th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) latest poll while CWRU is ranked 13th.

It was a comeback triumph for NYU as the Violets trailed 2-1 at the completion of doubles play with Jimena Menendez and Anastasiia Balyk winning 8-4 at the third flight.

In singles, Molly Heber started things off with a 6-3, 6-3 victory at the sixth flight to even the match 2-2.

Then, the Spartans won at No. 1 singles to retake the lead before Aditi Narayan earned a gritty triumph at fifth singles by claiming a pair of tiebreakers. She took the first set 7-6 (9-7) and the second 7-6 (7-3) to tie the match 3-3.

Jimena Menendez followed by outlasting CWRU's Katalina Wang at the fourth flight in a 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-1 victory. Dakota Fordham then clinched the win for NYU after coming back to defeat Lily McCloskey 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 at second singles.

"Our players battled from beginning to end," Choy said. "We had some early jitters in the doubles, but a key win at three doubles gave us confidence going into the singles. It was a great team win with contributions throughout the lineup."

The Violets now take on top-seeded University of Chicago tomorrow, April 21, in the semifinals at 12:30 p.m.