Tennis: WVU Stays Hot With Third Straight Win
February 16, 2008 07:16 PM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
February 16, 2008
AKRON, OHIO – The West Virginia University tennis team continued its solid play this afternoon after defeating Akron, 5-2, on Saturday, Feb. 16, in Akron, Ohio.
The Mountaineers (4-1) were led by the resurgence of senior Stacey Percival, who notched her first singles victory of the season after defeating Amy Sherlock of Akron, 6-3, 6-1. Percival also teamed with senior Natalia Prinz to defeat Sherlock-Castro Cota in No. 1 doubles, 8-6.
WVU swept all three doubles matches and won four of six singles matches, giving Percival, Prinz and Ashley Pilsbury two victories apiece on the day.
At No. 2 doubles, Monica Lyskawa and Stephanie LaFortune defeated Gombrera-Berry, 8-3. Colleen Speaker and Monique Burton finished off the sweep with an 8-6 win over Benjamin-Langworthy of Akron.
WVU head coach Marc Walters was impressed by WVU’s thorough performance, including its play in doubles competition.
“Akron’s court sets up for big serves and fast play, and it was great to beat them in doubles play on their court,” says Walters. “In No. 2 doubles we played very well, and we swept them in two other close matches. I was proud of the way we came out today”
Prinz’s second victory of the day came against Carolina Castro Cota in No. 3 singles, winning 6-1, 6-1, to continue her fast start in singles and doubles competition.
Speaker has become a reliable starter at No. 4 singles this season. She defeated Lindsey Berry, 6-2, 6-4, to improve to 4-1 in singles play.
At No. 5 singles, Pilsbury enjoyed another fine performance by defeating Alyssa Carlson, 6-0, 6-1.
WVU’s victory over the Zips (2-3) delighted Walters because Akron possesses plenty of talent and had been playing well to start the season.
“There wasn’t a single person that played bad, and that is important heading into the Pitt match,” says Walters. “We played a competitive match and came out strong. I was really happy because we beat a team that had been playing well as of late.”
The Mountaineers resume action when they travel to rival Pitt in their BIG EAST opener on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 5 p.m.
WVU-5, Akron-2
Singles
1. Stacey Percival (WVU) def. Amy Sherlock (AKR) 6-3, 6-1
2. Tanyaradzwa Gombera (AKR) def. Monica Lyskawa (WVU) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
3. Natalia Prinz (WVU) def. Carolina Castro Cota (AKR) 6-1, 6-1
4. Colleen Speaker (WVU) def. Lindsey Berry (AKR) 6-2, 6-4
5. Ashley Pilsbury (WVU) def. Alyssa Carlson (AKR) 6-0, 6-1
6. Jeremie Benjamin (AKR) def. Gabriela Blaskovicova (WVU) 7-5, 6-3
Doubles
1. Percival-Prinz (WVU) def. Sherlock-Castro Cota (AKR) 8-6
2. Lyskawa-LaFortune (WVU) def. Gombrera-Berry (AKR) 8-3
3. Pilsbury-Burton (WVU) def. Benjamin-Langworthy (AKR) 8-6
