Monday, September 14, 2009

Gator women's tennis opens season with runner-up finish at Heath Invite



Allegheny-St. Vincent boxscore

Allegheny-Case Western boxscore

MEADVILLE, Pa. -- The Allegheny women's tennis team defeated St. Vincent, 9-0, but then lost to Case Western, 5-4, to finish runner-up at the Nancy J. Heath Invitational at the Robertson Complex on Saturday.

Alyssa Tom, Deborah Landau and Janna Dickerson won two matches each at fourth, fifth and sixth singles, respectively, during the day.

Against St. Vincent, Tom defeated Rebecca Cenkner, 6-1, 6-1, while Landau was victorious against Nicole Peer, 6-3, 2-3 (ret.). Dickerson won her match over Megan Mahoney, 6-0, 6-0.

Lauren Kristofco, Elyse Schmitt and Sara Longo were also singles winners for the Gators (1-1). Kristofco won at first singles against Alexis Cup, 6-3, 6-0. At second singles, Schmitt handled Emily Morris, 6-2, 6-4, while at third singles, Longo bested Allie Botti, 6-3, 6-0.

In doubles competition, Kristofco and Longo renewed their partnership with an 8-0 first doubles win over Cup and Morris. Landau and Schmitt teamed for an 8-6 victory against Cenkner and Brittany Vignero at second doubles and Dickerson and Tamara Prairie defeated Peer and Jessica Paruch, 8-2, in third doubles.

In the loss to Case Western, Tom earned her win over Kathleen Evers, 6-3, 6-1. Landau defeated Cheyenne Chambers, 6-3, 6-4, and Dickerson was victorious against Corey Bowen, 6-4, 6-4.

Dickerson and Prairie earned the lone doubles point and improved their record to 2-0 with an 8-4 win over Bowen and Claudia Nieuwoudt.

In other matches on Saturday, Case Western won its semifinal match over Mercyhurst, 5-4. Mercyhurst then defeated St. Vincent in the tournament consolation match, 9-0.

Allegheny will play its next match on Tuesday when it hosts Mercyhurst at 4 p.m.