Tennis: WVU Brings Home Two Championships
September 18, 2006 04:23 PM | General
September 18, 2006
West Point, N.Y. – The West Virginia University tennis team brought home two championships on the final day of competition at the Eastern Collegiate Invitational on Sunday, Sept. 17, at West Point, N.Y.
Freshman Stephanie LaFortune walked away with her first collegiate championship in the No. 4 singles flight, defeating Tanja Vucetic of Brown, 7-6 (3), 6-2.
“Stephanie got stronger as the weekend progressed and really looked comfortable in the championship against a solid player from a regionally ranked team,” said Walters.
At No. 1 singles, junior Monica Lyskawa lost to number one seed Daisy Ames of Brown, 6-4, 6-2, in the championship round.
“Monica toughed out her first two matches in third-set tiebreaks to make the No. 1 singles final,” said coach Marc Walters. “She was very coachable in turning those matches around to her advantage and she definitely got some confidence from her play here.”
In doubles action, the dynamic duo of juniors Stacey Percival and Natalia Prinz, dominated the No. 1 doubles flight before edging past Maude Lecluyse/Michele Spiess of UMass, 9-8 (3).
“Percival and Prinz showed a lot of poise, which is what I look for in the upperclassmen,” said Walters.
The Mountaineers’ other doubles team, freshman Monique Burton and senior Ashley Constantine, put up a tough fight in the No. 2 doubles championship round before falling to Ellen DeJong/Laura Murillo of UMass, 8-5.
The squad finished the invitational with 25 victories and ten defeats.
“Anytime you can go to a tournament with a new coach, three freshmen and only a couple weeks of prep time and then come out with strong finishes, you have to be pleased,” Walters said. “This past weekend gives our team some legs going into the Maryland Invitational. It should help the girls focus on some things they need to iron out in their games.”
The squad travels to College Park, Md., on Friday, Sept. 22, for the Maryland Invitational.
West Virginia’s Weekend Summary:
No.1 Singles – (2) Monica Lyskawa
Rd. of 16 – def. Christine Burek (UConn), 7-6(3), 6-2
Quarterfinals – def. Gabby Pasternak (Quinnipiac), 5-7, 6-10, 10-3
Semifinals – def. Sarah Mayer (Siena), 6-3, 3-6, 10-1
Finals – lost to Daisy Ames (Brown), 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 Singles – (2) Kelly Walsh
Rd. of 16 – defeated Megan Gilroy (Providence), 6-1, 6-0
Quarterfinals – lost to Sandy Wijeratne (Stonybrook), 6-3, 6-4
No. 3 Singles – (2) Gabrielle Blaskovicova
Rd. of 16 – def. Sylvia Jaros (Seton Hall), 6-1, 6-1
Quarterfinals – def. Amanda Petruzzi (Quinnipiac), 6-0, 7-6 (7)
Semifinals – lost to Kelley LoRusso (UConn), 7-5, 7-5
No. 3 Singles - Coleen Speaker
Rd. of 16 - def. Lauren Cassie (Loyola), 6-0, 6-1
Quarterfinals - lost to Sara Mansur (Brown), 6-1, 6-2
No. 4 Singles – (3) Stephanie LaFortune
Rd. of 16 – def. Victoria Vovsha (Stonybrook), 4-6, 6-2, 10-5
Quarterfinals – def. Carlie Smith (Pitt), 6-3, 6-3
Semifinals – def. Seton Pariser (Brown), 6-3, 5-7, 10-5
Finals – def. Tanja Vucetic (Brown), 7-6 (3), 6-2
No. 1 Doubles – (1) Stacey Percival/Natalia Prinz
Rd. of 16 – def. Kate Danaher/Therese Griffin (Providence), 8-0
Semifinals – def. Kristin Beehler/Jessica Shurtz (Army), 8-6
Finals – def. Maude Lecluyse/Michele Spiess (UMass), 9-8 (3)
No. 2 Doubles – (1) Monique Burton/Ashley Constantine
Rd. of 16 – def. Shaina Murngan/Monica Myers (Stonybrook) 9-7
Semifinals – def. Nikki Adams/Shawna Sarson (Quinnipiac), 8-3
Finals – lost to Ellen DeJong/Laura Murillo (UMass), 8-5
