Tennis: Mountaineers Play Well on Day One
September 15, 2007 04:29 PM | General
September 15, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University womens tennis team had a successful first day at the Army Invitational on Friday, Sept. 14, in West Point, N.Y.
At No. 2 singles, Alexandra Kaluza and Natalia Prinz advanced to the quarterfinals. Kaluza defeated Sam Inacker of Colgate, 6-1, 6-3, then won her second round match against Paige Ford of Army, 6-4, 6-3.
Prinz, coming back from a neck injury, defeated Siena’s Jessica Ferrara, 6-1, 6-1, followed by a 6-2, 7-6 (1), victory against Anna Pirevezentseva of St. Bonaventure.
Gabriela Blaskovicova also advanced to the quarterfinals in No. 3 singles after defeating Diana Alguero of Army, 6-2, 6-4. She followed with a 5-7, 6-1, 10-5, victory over Quinnipiac’s Lisanne Steinert to keep her finals hopes alive.
In No. 4 singles, Stephanie LaFortune defeated her two opponents to advance to the round of eight. She defeated Maria Barousse of St. Bonaventure, 7-6 (5), 6-3, and then earned a 6-2, 3-6, 10-8, victory against Loyola’s Stephanie Dunn.
In No. 5 singles, Ashley Pilsbury and Monique Burton helped continue the Mountaineer’s onslaught. Pilsbury earned a bye in the first round and then defeated Colgate’s Jackie Stimmel, 6-3, 6-1, to advance to the semifinals. Burton defeated Stephanie Bender of Colgate, 7-6 (4), 6-2, followed by a 6-2, 6-1, victory over Maria Casaletto of Army to also advance to the semifinals.
In No. 2 doubles, Kathryn Klein and Colleen Speaker defeated Limsiaco-Meneloza of Army, 8-6, in the second round after starting the tournament with a bye.
After receiving a bye in the first round, No. 1 seed Stacey Percival was defeated by Buffalo’s Denise Harijanto, 3-6, 6-2, 10-5, in No. 1 singles play. Monica Lyskawa also lost in her first match, 6-3, 7-6 (6), against Selma Babic of Long Island.
Quarterfinal and semifinal play resumes on Saturday, Sept. 15.
