By Tiffany Doolittle for WVUsports.com
January 30, 2011 07:43 PM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University tennis team was defeated by Liberty today, in a 5-2 match at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
“We got to a point where we could have won today, but we were afraid to win,” says coach Tina Samara. “We wanted them to lose, but you have to be able to make things happen instead of waiting for them to happen.”
In doubles, the Mountaineers lost to the Lady Flames in three close matches. The No. 1 pair of junior Veronica Cardenas and freshman Mary Chupa, and the No. 2 pair of sophomore Emily Mathis and freshman Melis Tanik fell 9-7 in their respective matches. Senior Ashley Pilsbury and junior Catie Wickline also fought a tough match, but fell 9-8(7-3) in the No. 3 spot.
Cardenas and Chupa captured WVU’s only two points of the day in the singles competition, both of which were won in three sets. Cardenas won in the No. 3 spot, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0, while Chupa defeated her opponent, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2, in the No. 4 spot.
Tanik had a close match in No. 1 singles, but was defeated 6-2 in the third set. Mathis (No. 2), Pilsbury (No. 5) and freshman Anna Rodionova (No. 6) also competed in the singles competition.
“We had two match points in doubles and two match points in singles, which would’ve won the doubles and singles point,” adds Samara. “We could have walked away with four match points, but didn’t end up winning any of them. We’re at a crossroads where we need to figure out what we’re willing to give up to get better.”
The Mountaineers will continue action on Feb. 5, as they play host to Marshall at the Ridgeview Racquet Club in Morgantown, W.Va.
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