Tennis: WVU Finishes 10th in BIG EAST
April 19, 2008 09:12 PM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
April 19, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University tennis team ended its season by falling to conference rival Pitt, 4-3, on Saturday afternoon to finish in 10th place at the BIG EAST Championships at the USF Tennis Courts in Tampa, Fla.
The Mountaineers (15-10, 5-4 BIG EAST) experienced a dramatic week at the postseason tournament, finishing 1-2 in which both losses were by 4-3 scores. No. 10 WVU began the BIG EAST Championships with a 4-3 loss to No. 7 St. John’s on day one, and followed with a 4-2 victory over No. 11 Connecticut on Friday before falling to No. 9 Pitt for the second time this season.
Shining for WVU was freshman Ashley Pilsbury, who finished with a 5-1 overall record in the postseason. She defeated Leah Friedman, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 6 singles to go undefeated in singles competition during the week. In her first season, the Port Orange, Fla., native ended her year with 26 victories.
Natalia Prinz also finished at 3-0 in singles play, beating Elizabeth Adams at the No. 3 spot, 6-3, 6-2. The Tczew, Poland, native finishes her senior year with a team-best 29 victories, her best season as a Mountaineer.
“I was very impressed with Natalia in singles play,” says WVU Head Coach Marc Walters. “She and Ashley Pilsbury had a terrific weekend. Stephanie LaFortune also put forth a good showing today.”
LaFortune was the only WVU performer who garnered two victories on the day. She teamed with Monica Lyskawa at No. 2 doubles to defeat Visram-D’Achille, 8-4. LaFortune then won her first singles match during the week when she beat Carlie Smith at No. 5 singles, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Despite finishing 10th in the BIG EAST for the second consecutive season, the Mountaineers improved on last season’s 13-12 overall record. Their 5-4 record in the BIG EAST also marks the fourth straight season WVU has finished with a .500 or better conference record.
Pitt 4 WVU 3
Singles
1. Kristy Borza (Pitt) def. Stacey Percival (WVU), 6-0, 3-6, 6-1
2. Sabrina Visram (Pitt) def. Monica Lyskawa (WVU), 6-3, 6-0
3. Natalia Prinz (WVU) def. Elizabeth Adams (Pitt), 6-3, 6-2
4. Christie D’Achille (Pitt) def. Colleen Speaker (WVU), 7-5, 7-5
5. Stephanie LaFortune (WVU) def. Carlie Smith (Pitt), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
6. Ashley Pilsbury (WVU) def. Leah Friedman (Pitt), 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
1. Adams/Borza (Pitt) def. Prinz/Percival (WVU), 8-2
2. Lyskawa/LaFortune (WVU) def. Visram/D’Achille (Pitt), 8-4
3. Smith/Friedman (Pitt) def. Burton/Pilsbury (WVU), 8-6
