Women's Tennis: WVU Takes Down the Panthers
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University tennis team (2-5, 1-1 BIG EAST) defeated BIG EAST rival Pitt on its home courts today, in a 5-2 match at the Ridgeview Racquet Club. “I thought today was a good effort by the whole team,” says coach Tina Samara. “I realize that Pitt is always a big match for us, so it’s nice to get a win in this situation. It’s important for the team’s morale and to know we’re making some improvements with every match.” The Mountaineers started the day by capturing the doubles point, after sophomores Emily Mathis and Liv Pettersson won 8-6 in the No. 2 spot, followed by an 8-0 shut-out by freshman Melis Tanik and senior Ashley Pilsbury in the No. 3 spot. The doubles pair of junior Veronica Cardenas and freshman Mary Chupa fought a tough match in the No. 1 spot, but fell 6-8. In singles, WVU started off with four-consecutive wins in the No. 1-3 spots by Tanik (No. 1), Mathis (No. 2), and Chupa (No. 3). Chupa captured the first singles victory in a 7-5, 6-1 match against Pitt’s Jocelyn Lu, while Tanik followed shortly behind with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 victory over the Panthers’ Elizabeth Adams. Mathis clinched the match with a hard-hitting, third-set victory over Pitt’s Gabrielle Catanzariti,1-6, 6-2, 6-4, while Rodionova (No. 6) captured the final win for the Mountaineers in a 7-6, 6-4 match. Cardenas (No. 4) and Pilsbury (No. 5) also competed in the singles competition, but came up short in their respective matches. “They didn’t play their best tennis, but no one on the team quit throughout the entire match,” add Samara. “Anna and Ashley especially, because both of them still fought to the end, knowing the match was already clinched.” The Mountaineers will continue action at home on Sunday, Feb. 19, as they host California (Pa.) in an 11 a.m., match at the Ridgeview Racquet Club. |
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