Norfolk, Va.  - The No. 3 seeded Georgia State women's tennis team advanced to the finals for the second time in three seasons after defeating No. 2 VCU, 4-2, Saturday at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center on the campus of Old Dominion. Junior Kir Kemp clinched the match for the Panthers.

Georgia State (15-3) advances to the finals to face No. 1 William & Mary tomorrow at 10 a.m.

"We knew going into the match against VCU that it wasn't going to be easy," said head coach Miha Lisac. "We played good in doubles but VCU played well, it was encouraging to see everyone step up today."

"All six players contributed to the victory today, it took an overall effort to take four points from VCU, added Lisac. "We are not expecting anything less tomorrow against William and Mary. We need all six players to step up again tomorrow."

With the Panthers leading 3-2, Kemp clinched the match with a straight sets win against Daria Yakavleva, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 5 singles. Kemp earns her fourth clincher of the season and improves to 13-3 in singles.

Georgia State lost the doubles point to fall behind 1-0 in the match. Tereza Lerova and Katerina Gresova lost 8-4 at No. 2 doubles against Josefin Hjertquist and Ana Bara.

Kir Kemp and Martina Ondrackova lost 8-6 at No. 3 doubles against Daria Yakavleva and Manuela Pietzuch. Kemp and Ondrackova were down 5-2 before rallying to tie the match at 5-5 but eventually lost 8-6.

Senior Katerina Gresova tied the match at 1-1 after a straight sets win against Ana Bara, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 4 singles. Gresova improved to 11-6 in singles on the season.

VCU regained the lead after Alex Bara won in straight sets against Tereza Lerova, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 2 singles.

Freshman Maryna Kozachenko tied the match at 2-2 after winning in straight sets against Josefin Hjertquist, 6-2, 7-5, at No. 3 singles. Kozachenko had three match points at 6-5 before finishing the match.

Freshman Abigail Tere-Apisah, the CAA Rookie of the Year, gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead after winning in the third set against Kateryna Yergina, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 1 singles. Tere-Apisah fell behind a set before rallying to win two straight sets to earn her 13th win of the season.

-www.GeorgiaStateSports.com-