Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Syracuse
Varela Wins Two but Bucknell Women's Tennis Drops 6-1 Decision at Syracuse
3/7/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 7, 2010
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Tania Varela (Quito, Ecuador/Alliance Academy) was the only Bison to win two matches, both at the No.1 position, as Bucknell women's tennis fell 6-1 to Syracuse at the Drumlins Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon. Bucknell finishes its full weekend at 2-1, bringing its dual record to 2-5 this spring.
After three matches on the road this weekend, Varela brings a perfect 6-0 record back to Lewisburg. To cap off her winning streak, the senior first teamed up with Lauren Lucido (Woodstock, Md./St. Paul's School for Girls) at No. 1 doubles to defeat Emily Harman and Chelsea Jones. The duos went the distance, taking the match to a tiebreak, but Bucknell prevailed 8-7 (7-5) in the end.
Varela had a similarly difficult match at first singles later in the day. The Orange's CC Sardinha pushed the match to a tiebreaker before Varela again came out in front. Varela was unable to hold serve in the second set, as Sardinha won the set at 6-0. Momentum swung again just enough for the Bucknellian to claim the ultimate win at 10-7 in the super tiebreak.
Varela is now 9-2 this spring in singles competition, including 5-0 over her last five matches. Her recent doubles record is equally impressive at 5-4 overall and 5-0 in the last five.
Syracuse dominated in the rest of the day's matches. The Orange claimed the doubles point after defeating Daria Tuzhikova (Minsk, Belarus/Gymnasium No. 7) and Dumitrita Iepuras (Chisinau, Moldova/Germantown Friends School), 8-0, and Courtney Casey (Rockville, Md./Georgetown Visitation) and Carlin Calcaterra (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central), 8-1.
The loss by Tuzhikova and Iepuras is the first for the team in dual competition. The international tandem had won five straight entering its match with Syracuse.
With the exception of Varela, no Bison was able to take a set off their Orange opponent in singles play. Iepuras came close at the fifth position, but could not pull out the victory against Simone Kalhorn. After falling behind a set with a 6-2 loss, Iepuras battled through the second. The sophomore fell short in the end, however, by a score of 7-5.
With spring break on the horizon, Bucknell's next scheduled match is set for March 20 at Villanova.
Syracuse 6, Bucknell 1
Doubles
1 Varela/Lucido (B) def. Harman/Jones (SU), 8-7 (5)
2 Sardinha/Kalhorn (SU) def. Tuzhikova/Iepuras (B), 8-0
3 Peters/Parra (SU) def. Casey/Calcaterra (B), 8-1
Singles
1 Tania Varela (B) def. CC Sardinha (SU), 7-6 (7), 0-6, (10-7)
2 Emily Harman (SU) def. Lauren Lucido (B), 6-3, 6-4
3 Eleanor Peters (SU) def. Dara Dwojewski (B), 6-0, 6-0
4 Alessondra Parra (SU) def. Lauren Rottkamp (B), 6-0, 6-3
5 Simone Kalhorn (SU) def. Dumitrita Iepuras (B), 6-2, 7-5
6 Christina Tan (SU) def. Daria Tuzhikova (B), 6-0, 6-0
