NCAA Division II champion Valentine Confalonieri of Lynn University used a first-set service break and three more in the second to defeat NAIA champion Abbes 6-4, 6-2 in the "Super Bowl" women's final of the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships at Palmetto Tennis Center.
Abbes, a sophomore, entered the match with a 30-0 career record. Confalonieri, a junior, earned her 36th consecutive singles victory, repeated as "Super Bowl' champion and, as a result of Sunday's victory, earned a wild card into next month's USTA/ITA Intercollegiate Indoor Championships.
Abbes served first, and the players were on serve until Confalonieri broke Abbes in the seventh game. The players exchanged service breaks in the first two games of the second set, but Abbes collected no more.
"She was a good player -- one of the best I have faced at Xavier -- and she deserved the win," Abbes said of Confalonieri, "but I didn't make it harder on her to claim the title. I made a lot of mistakes."
Coach Alan Green had praise for both.
"Nour lost to a great player," Green said. "Confalonieri was just too steady and never let Nour get comfortable. Nour had some good moments, but not enough of them. Confalonieri had an impressive forehand and showed why she's put together a long win streak.
"But -- that takes nothing away from what Nour accomplished here in four days. She was Xavier's first NAIA singles champion in this tournament. Nour has had a great run and is still a formidable player. I'm looking forward to her continued improvement and more great tennis."
Abbes and teammates will compete next Oct. 24-25 in the Big Easy Classic at the University of New Orleans, then begin dual-match play in late January or early February.
"It was a very good week overall, and I'm very happy with what I accomplished," Abbes said. "When I got here, I just took it one match at a time, and I'm happy I got this far. Now I just have to focus on what's coming next and try to enjoy the NAIA title."
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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