Tennis: WVU Splits First Two Matches
January 20, 2008 04:01 PM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
January 20, 2008
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia University tennis team split its first two matches of the season after defeating Morehead State, 6-1, on Saturday, January 19, but fell to Marshall, 7-0, on Sunday at the Huntington Tennis Club in Huntington, W.Va.
The Mountaineers (1-1, 0-0) got off to a strong start after taking five of six singles matches en route to a dominating team performance. Monica Lyskawa began the onslaught after defeating Madeleinne Antero, 6-1, 6-2, in No. 2 singles to earn her first victory of the spring season.
Senior Colleen Speaker provided a solid performance for WVU after winning over Lauren Delaney, 6-4, 6-3. The Mountaineers also received great play from Stephanie LaFortune and Ashley Renee Pilsbury, with both winning their matches convincingly.
The match of the day was provided by senior Natalia Prinz, who fought back from a 4-6 first set deficit to get the victory over Megan Rozboril in No. 3 singles, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
"Natalia’s (Prinz) match was a great way for her to start the year since she struggled at times last season in close matches,” says WVU head coach Marc Walters. “Morehead State is much improved and the entire match was a good test for us.”
WVU scored both victories in doubles play, with Percival/Prinz defeating Morehead State’s Rozboril/Butts in No. 1 doubles, 9-8 (7-5). Gabriela Blaskovicova/Lyskawa earned the other doubles victory by defeating Antero/Butt, 8-1.
The Mountaineers had trouble against the Thundering Herd, winning only one set overall for their first loss of the season. WVU lost all three of its doubles matches as well as all six singles matches.
Speaker, who won the lone set against Marshall, was defeated by Jeanne Schwartz, 6-3, 4-6, 10-4, at No. 4 singles.
Walters believes that the minor setback against Marshall will help the club focus on improving in their next match.
“The loss gives us some things to focus on in practice this week,” says Walters. “For our first weekend we saw some very good competition.”
WVU will play host to Liberty in its next match on Friday, February 1, at 5 p.m. at the Ridgeview Racquet Club in Morgantown.
