SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Barry University women's tennis team accomplished what it set out to do Wednesday -- win efficiently. The No. 1 Buccaneers swept No. 19 Midwestern State, 5-0, in the NCAA Championships Round of 16 at Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex.
Efficiency was the name of the game on this day.
"Of course it helps a lot with your confidence, and it helps the team as well because you get off the quick," Barry freshman Emma Onila said after picking up a pair of victories. "It's a little strange to play here because the balls fly, so you have to adapt."
The Bucs (27-0) made all the necessary adjustments in this one, and now advance to the quarterfinals at 4 p.m. EST Thursday when they will meet No. 2 Armstrong Atlantic (27-1). Barry beat Armstrong, 5-4, in Miami Shores during the regular season.
Thursday's quarterfinal match can be seen live on the NCAA.com's Streaming Site.
"Tomorrow, I think the focus for us is going to be for us to win our doubles," Onila said. "We just have to play our best, try our best, and that's it."
Wednesday, the Bucs were on top of their game in pairs play. Elisabeth Abanda and Onila, the No. 8-ranked doubles team in the country, beat Sarita Adhikary and Lauren Pineda, 8-3, at the top flight. Linda Fritschken and Akemi Maehama were 8-2 winners over Kayla Casey and Madeline Schorlemmer at No. 2. Karina Goia and Isabela Miro beat Fatima Clementino and KynZee Watson, 3-0, at No. 3.
That put the Bucs ahead 3-0 entering singles play.
Fritschken made quick work of Casey, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 3 singles to move Barry within a point of clinching the match. Ranked 30th in the nation, Onila sealed the deal with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Taylor Coffman, at No. 2.
Barry was up a set in the remaining four singles matches with Abanda leading at No. 1, Goia ahead at No. 4, Maehama up at No. 5 and Miro in front at No. 6.
"It's a great feeling," Onila said. "I just hope to continue (playing well), and hopefully we'll come through with a win."