4/24/2010
MEADVILLE, Pa. -- Allegheny senior Meggie Oravec won her Senior Day singles match, but the Gator women's tennis team suffered a 5-4 nail-biting loss to Oberlin in North Coast Athletic Conference East Division action on Saturday at the Robertson Complex.
In a match that began with the six singles contests, the Gators (4-13, 1-1) were behind 4-2 before heading into doubles play.
Allegheny's Margaret Hodgkiss-Lilly and Deborah Landau snagged a 9-7 win at third doubles over Rebecca Brown and Julie Christensen. At second doubles, Janna Dickerson and Elyse Schmitt bested Preeya Shah and Brie White-Dzuro, 8-3, to pull the Gators into a 4-all tie.
The Gators' No. 1 doubles team -- Lauren Kristofco and Sara Longo -- fell in an exciting match to Finley Gates and Ariel Lewis, 9-8 (7-3).
In singles play, Landau and Oravec were winners at fifth and sixth singles, respectively. Landau defeated Brown, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7), while Oravec handled Emily Thebaut, 6-3, 6-3.
Kristofoco suffered a loss to a nationally-ranked Lewis. Lewis, No. 30 in NCAA Division III and fifth in the Central Region, won the first singles match, 6-2, 6-1 for Oberlin (11-8, 2-0).
The Gators will be back in action on Sunday when they visit NCAC East foe Kenyon for a 2 p.m. start. The match will be Allegheny's final contest before the NCAC Tournament.
