Nina Garcia prevailed in a three-set nail-biter over the York Lions number five Shaza Nessim to clinch the bronze medal for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s tennis team at the OUA tennis championships at the University of Ontario Institue of Technology (UOIT) in Oshawa, Ont.

It came down to the final match of the game for the Varsity Blues as Garcia (Brasila, Brazil), in the number five spot, pulled off the 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 win over Nessim (Cairo, Egypt) to give Toronto the 4-3 victory in the bronze-medal game.

York started the event with a single point in the doubles match, taking all three doubles games 8-4, 8-6, 8-5.

Things looked bright for the Lions as their number one Stephanie Willdering (Toronto) defeated Blues number one and 2009 OUA all-star Daria Zakharchenko (Sochi, Russia) 6-4, 7-6 (11-9) before Toronto number two Roxanne Soica (Toronto) defeated Julia Khalilova (Etobicoke, Ont.) handily 6-2, 6-1.

A number four seed coming into the OUA championchips, the Blues’ number 4, 5 and 6 positions all pulled through in the end, including the thrilling Fracia victory to seal the deal.

Toronto lost 7-0 to the top seed Montreal Carabins in Saturday’s first semifinal, putting them into Sunday’s bronze-medal tilt. 



GAME SUMMARY

Doubles (single point earned by York in doubles play)
1. York defeated Toronto 8-4
2. York defeated Toronto 8-6
3. York defeated Toronto 8-5

Singles
1. Stephanie Willerding (YORK) defeated Daria Zakharchenko (TOR) 6-4, 7-6 (11-9)
2. Roxanna Soica (TOR) defeated Julia Khalilova (YORK) 6-2, 6-1
3. Paloma Jimenez (YORK) defeated Jocelyn Luk (TOR) 6-1, 6-3
4. Aisha Bhimla (TOR) defeated Sabina Kalo (YORK) 6-2, 6-4
5. Nina Garcia (TOR) defeated Shaza Nessim (YORK) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
6. Kamini Rachuram (TOR) defeated Jessica Li (YORK) 6-2, 6-3

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.