Goia Captures Women's Tennis Title

MIAMI -- Barry University sophomore Karina Goia won her first women's tennis singles title as a Buccaneer when she defeated Florida Gulf Coast's Sarah Means, 6-3, 7-6 (5), Sunday at the Florida International Panther Invitational.

Goia, of Arad, Romania, won the top singles flight title in a tournament featuring three Division I schools and Barry at FIU. She went 3-0 in the Flight 1 singles event.

Barry senior Cristina Valladares fell to FIU's Aleksandra Trifunovic, 6-3, 6-4, in Flight 2 singles final. 

Barry sophomore Elisabeth Abanda defeated Liberty's Maria Khval, 6-4, 7-6 (5) in the Flight 1 singles consolation final.

Akemi Maehama, Barry's senior from Miami (Krop HS), defeated Liberty's Belen Rivera, 6-1, 7-5 to take third place in the Flight 2 bracket. 

Bucs freshman Jasi Witherspoon lost to Liberty's Nicola Wellman, 6-1, 6-1, in the Flight 3 singles backdraw.

Barry's doubles team of Emma Onila and Linda Fritschken will compete in the ITA Indoor National Championships next weekend in Flushing, N.Y., to conclude the fall season.