Tennis: WVU Drops Opening Match
April 17, 2008 05:36 PM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
April 17, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University tennis team dropped its opening match to No. 7 seeded St. John’s, 4-3, in the first round of the BIG EAST Championships at the USF Tennis Courts in Tampa, Fla.
In a match that took over four hours, the No. 10 Mountaineers suffered a close loss after faltering in singles competition. WVU mustered only two victories in singles play while earning the advantageous doubles point to start the match.
The tandem of Stephanie LaFortune and Monica Lyskawa continued their impressive season with an 8-5 victory over Alekosova-Zivcicova at No. 2 doubles. Ashley Pilsbury and Monique Burton grabbed a big win at No. 3 doubles, beating Harper-Gasiunaite, 8-2.
At No. 6 singles, Pilsbury became the only Mountaineer to earn two victories on the day when she beat Ashley Harper, 7-6 (6-2), 6-1. The freshman recorded her 23rd win of the season and improved to 12-9 in singles play.
Natalia Prinz garnered WVU’s other singles victory when she defeated Emily Barnett in a three-set match at No. 3 singles, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. Prinz’s victory tied the match at 3-3 before the Red Storm won the contest at No. 1 singles.
WVU has proven to be resilient in many of its losses this season, as it fell by a 4-3 score for the fourth time this spring. With singles play being a strong point for the Mountaineers, they were hurt by close matches at No. 1 and No. 2 singles that helped decided the contest.
The Red Storm’s Maria Zincicova won a close match against senior Stacey Percival in a three-set tiebreaker at No. 1 singles, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5). Alison Adamski also defeated WVU’s Monica Lyskawa at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 7-6 (6-4).
The Mountaineers continue play in the consolation bracket on Friday, April 18, at 3 p.m. when they face No. 11 Connecticut. WVU defeated the Huskies on Saturday, 6-1.
"Our team played at a terrific level today," said WVU Head Coach Marc Walters. "I was really proud of the way we played. It was one of our most intense matches of the year, and they put forth a terrific effort."
St. John's-4 WVU-3
Singles
1. Maria Zivcicova (SJU) def. Stacey Percival (WVU), 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (5)
2. Alison Adamski (SJU) def. Monica Lyskawa (WVU), 6-3, 7-6 (4)
3. Natalia Prinz (WVU) def. Emily Barnett (SJU), 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
4. Mariana Chachua (SJU) def. Colleen Speaker (WVU), 6-1, 6-4
5. Ira Aleksova (SJU) def. Stephanie LaFortune (WVU), 6-2, 6-1
6. Ashley Pilsbury (WVU) def. Ashley Harper (SJU), 7-6 (2), 6-1
Doubles
1. Adamski/Barnett (SJU) def. Prinz/Percival (WVU), 8-6
2. Lyskawa/Lafortune (WVU) def. Alekosova/Zivcicova (SJU), 8-5
3. Burton/Pilsbury (WVU) def. Harper/Gasiunaite (SJU), 8-2
