CLAREMONT, CA. – With a third-set tiebreak standing between Wesleyan women's tennis'
Jackie Soloveychik '27 and a 2025 National Semifinal victory, Soloveychik left everything on the court and more to return four games in a row for victory as the No. 2-ranked singles player in the nation, advancing to the NCAA National Championship match on Memorial Day from the Biszants Family Tennis Center at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
For the first time since 2019, Wesleyan will see a Cardinal play for the national title as Soloveychik becomes just the fourth women's tennis player to reach the finals. Venia Yeung's '22 rookie campaign saw her named the 2019 national runner-up, they join Victoria Yu '29, and four-time National Champion Eudice Chong '18.
What looked to be a speedy matchup quickly turned on its head when No. 15 Jimena Menendez of NYU tied the match up at one after a second-set comeback. Soloveychik and Menendez have faced each other three times this season, Soloveychik now takes home the victory in all three matches. The duo previously met in Oct. during the ITA Cup quarterfinal (6-3, 6-1) and March during a Spring Break faceoff at Christoper Newport (4-6, 6-3, 10-4).
Dropping zero games to Menendez in set one, Soloveychik cruised to a 6-0 sweep and took to set two with Menendez on the mend. Menendez was not going down without a fight and climbed to a 2-0 lead before Soloveychik was able to cut the score. Soloveychik finally caught Menendez at five, winning three in a row to force Menendez to extra games. Tying the match up at a set apiece, Menendez escaped with a 7-5 win to send the match to a third set.
Menendez got the jump on Soloveychik to open the tiebreaker, but the advantage was short lived as Soloveychik took the lead at 2-1. Holding Menendez at arm's length through a tie at two, the sophomore would not allow another point as she played four in a row to advance to the 2025 NCAA National Championship match in a stunning 6-0, 5-7, 6-2 triumph.
Awaiting Soloveychik is No. 16 Lindsey Eisenman of CMS in the title match on Tuesday, May 27, with action beginning at 1 p.m. EST.
