ROME, GA – Lia Melvin and Jay Xiao became just the second Johns Hopkins doubles team to make the championship match of the ITA Cup. In addition, Claire Loftus and Sahana Madala advanced to the finals of the consolation bracket.  
 
Melvin and Xiao join Mikey Barthelmass and Ashnaa Rao (2016) as Blue Jay doubles teams to play in the finals at the ITA Cup.
 
Melvin and Xiao won their opening match in straight sets, beating Kendall Smith and Lara Afolayanka (WU) 6-2, 6-4. The pair then beat Izabele Antanavicius and Erika Olson (EU), who had upset the top-seed in the opening round. Melvin and Xiao won 6-2, 7-5 over the team from Antanavicius and Olson.
 
In the semifinals, Melvin and Xiao rallied to win 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (5) over Elina Shalaev and Greta Nagy (OC) and punch their ticket to the title match. Their run ended in the finals to second-seeded Lindsay Eisenman and Rebecca Kong (CMS) 6-1, 6-2.
 
Loftus and Madala faced off against Eisenman and Kong in the opening round, with the CMS team winning 6-4, 6-3. In the consolation draw, the Blue Jay team defeated Nana Vang and Sascha Wells (WC) 7-5, 6-3. Loftus and Madala then came from behind to beat Eliana Hanna and Ally Lin (WU) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (6). The duo were scheduled to take on top-seeded Eleanor Archer and Caitlin Bui (WU) in the finals of the consolation bracket.
 
Xiao now has 52 career doubles wins, moving them into a tie for ninth in Johns Hopkins history. Xiao is also now tied for 11^th with 91 combined career wins. Melvin moved into a tie for 19^th with 40 career doubles wins.
 
Hopkins will wrap up its fall schedule at the Navy Blinds November 1-2.