Sarena Biria Falls in Singles Semifinals; Fourth Player to Reach Singles Semis

Box Score CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- University of Chicago junior

Sarena Biria returned to the courts on Sunday for a battle between the #1 and #2 singles players in the nation with a spot in the National Championship match on the line.

In a rematch from the #1 singles match in the Team National Quarterfinals on Monday, Biria took on Matia Cristiani from Babson College, the #1 ranked player in the country who came in with a 35-0 record during the season and a 115-6 record in her career.

In the opening game, the two players traded a pair of breaks in the opening two games, and Biria held to take a 2-1 lead. Then, the Kansas City, Kansas native had three break points, leading 40-15 in the fourth game, but Cristiani held off all three to level the score. After the hold, Cristiani held her momentum with a break, and she held off two more break points to take a 4-2 lead. Following a hold by Biria, she had two more break point opportunities, but Cristiani rose to the challenge once more, saving both chances and earning a break in the next game for the 6-3 win in the opening set.

Cristiani took control immediately in the second set with a hold and a break, but Biria had a chance to break back at 2-0. Despite the opportunity, Cristiani held off a pair of break points and broke back in the following game for a 4-0 lead. Biria would break back once more time, but Cristiani would be too much in the end, holding on for the 6-3, 6-1 win.

With the loss, Biria caps off her junior season with a 28-10 record overall and a 9-4 record against nationally-ranked opponents. She also earned ITA All-America honors in singles, and she became just the fourth University of Chicago player in program history to reach the National Semifinals in the singles draw.