Tennis: WVU Upends California (Pa.)
March 21, 2008 09:50 AM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
March 21, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (March 21, 2008) – The West Virginia University tennis team played one of its best matches of the season and defeated California (Pa.), 6-1, on Thursday, March 20, at the Ridgeview Racquet Club.
Senior Natalia Prinz and freshman Ashley Pilsbury had two victories apiece to lead the surging Mountaineers (9-4, 2-1 BIG EAST). Prinz defeated Olga Alekseeva, 6-1, 6-3, in No. 3 singles and teamed with Monique Burton at No. 2 doubles to beat Vishnikina-Kowalski, 8-6.
Pilsbury earned a three-set victory with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 win over Galina Vishnikina at No. 5 singles. She paired with senior Stacey Percival in a new-look lineup at No. 3 doubles and defeated Alekseeva-Chipchase, 8-5.
WVU performed well against one of the nation’s strongest Division II opponents, and showed much improvement after last season’s grueling 5-4 win over the Vulcans.
Monica Lyskawa provided a spark at No. 2 singles and swung the momentum of the match with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Inga Chilingaryan. The senior showcased her dominance and executed well against a highly-touted Division II opponent.
Colleen Speaker garnered WVU’s second three-set singles victory and notched her first of the season with a 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3 win over Nina Kowalski at No. 4 singles.
Stephanie LaFortune continued her torrid stretch with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) victory against Marina Quintana at No. 6 singles. The sophomore is 5-1 in singles and doubles competition over her last three matches and plays a vital role for WVU as it heads further into BIG EAST play.
WVU Head Coach Marc Walters was pleased with his team’s performance and was mostly happy with the way they fought back and executed down the stretch.
“Everybody did a good job fighting back,” says Walters. “It was real good for us because we struggled to beat them last season. I think we established ourselves well against them.”
WVU-6 Cal(Pa.)-1
SINGLES
1. Helena VanEysendeyk (CAL) def. Stacey Percival (WVU), 6-0, 6-1
2. Monica Lyskawa (WVU) def. Inga Chilingaryan (CAL), 6-4, 6-2
3. Natalia Prinz (WVU) def. Olga Alekseeva (CAL), 6-1, 6-3
4. Colleen Speaker(WVU) def. Nina Kowalski (CAL), 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3
5. Ashley Pilsbury (WVU) def. Galina Vishnika (CAL), 5-7, 6-1, 6-2
6. Stephanie LaFortune (WVU) def. Marina Quintana (CAL), 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
DOUBLES
1. Inga Chilingaryan and Helena VanEysendeyk (CAL) def. Monica Lyskawa and Stephanie LaFortune (WVU), 8-6
2. Natalia Prinz and Monique Burton (WVU) def. Nina Kowalski and Galina Vishnikina (CAL), 8-6
3. Stacey Percival and Ashley Pilsbury (WVU) def. Olga Alekseeva and Anna Chipchase (CAL), 8-5
