Elbaz Closes Out Princeton's 4-3 Win Over JMU In 2026 Opener

Friday, January 23

Princeton, N.J.

10:00 AM

Princeton University

James Madison

Tsehay Driscoll and Pearlie Zhang clap hands

Tsehay Driscoll and Pearlie Zhang during their match at No. 1 doubles against JMU

Elbaz Closes Out Princeton's 4-3 Win Over JMU In 2026 Opener

January 23, 2026 | Women's Tennis

There were maybe 90 seconds between the two singles wins the James Madison women's tennis team picked up to square things against Princeton with one match still to go. That drama didn't last long — maybe 10 more seconds if that.

Eva Elbaz closed out her match at No. 3 one point after JMU had tied it up, giving Princeton a 4-3 win in its 2026 season opener at the Si Qin Family Indoor Tennis Center Friday.

Princeton won the doubles point and the first two singles matches that finished, making it a 3-0 lead and the need for one win in the remaining four matches. Alice Ferlito was the first singles winner at No. 1 with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Daria Munteanu, and Pearlie Zhang was next, winning 6-2, 6-2 over Ariel Avidan at No. 5.

Anna Kantor made it 3-1 with a straight-set win over Berklie Simmering at No. 6, leaving the Tigers still one win away as the final three matches all went to a third set. The first two of those to finish were wins for the Dukes, and, briefly, it was 3-3.

Elbaz ended it literally one point later, rallying past Brooklyn Hoffman 6-7 (1-7), 6-2, 6-4. Elbaz was broken while serving for the match at 5-3 in the third and then broke back to end things.

Princeton now hosts Rutgers Saturday at noon.

Princeton (1-0) 4, James Madison (1-2) 3

Singles
No. 1 Alice Ferlito (P) def. Daria Munteanu 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 Mia Saveljic (JMU) def. Isabella Chhiv 5-7, 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 Eva Elbaz (P) def. Brooklyn Hoffmann 6-7 (1-7), 6-2, 6-4
No. 4 Sophie Williams (JMU) def. Tsehay Driscoll 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
No. 5 Pearlie Zhang (P) def. Ariel Avidan 6-2, 6-2
No. 6 Anna Kantor (JMU) def. Berklie Simmering 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 5, 6, 4, 2, 3

Doubles
No. 1 Pearlie Zhang/Tsehay Driscoll (P) def. Brooklyn Hoffman/Sophie Williams 6-4
No. 2 Alice Ferlito/Alicia Cheng (P) led Sophie Williams/Reka Matko 5-4 (DNF)
No. 3 Eva Elbaz/Isabella Chhiv (P) def. Daria Munteanu/Ariel Avidan 6-2
Order of finish: 3, 1