Bucknell University
Lehigh
Bison Women's Tennis Beats Lehigh 5-2 for First Patriot League Win of the Season
4/13/2012 8:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 13, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell women's tennis team (3-15, 1-2 PL) hosted Lehigh University (4-13, 1-3 PL) Friday afternoon and earned a 5-2 victory over the Mountain Hawks. Senior Courtney Casey picked up two wins for the Bison as Bucknell won its first Patriot League contest of the season.
The Bison started off the afternoon in dominating form, sweeping all three doubles matches against the Mountain Hawks. Dumitrita Iepuras and Lauren Boone made quick work of their opponents Jill Sloand and Kathleen Larkin in the No. 3 position. The Bucknell duo jumped out to a 7-2 lead before Sloand and Larkin clawed their way back into the match at 7-5. Iepuras and Boone then brought the contest to an end, winning the last game and the match, 8-5.
Partners Lydia Colvin and Casey along with Daria Tuzhikova and Elena Vidrascu had their work cut out for them. Each duo had to overcome a slight deficit to earn a victory. Tuzhikova and Vidrascu came back from a 3-0 Lehigh lead to beat their opponents Jenai Bilimoria and Abby Farrell, 8-4. Colvin and Casey fought in a back-and-forth match to win the No. 2 doubles over Elizabeth Piscitelli and Gabby Drucker by the score of 8-6.
In singles play the Bison kept the pressure on Lehigh and used the doubles momentum to carry the team to victory.
Colvin, Tuzhikova and Casey all picked up a second win after finishing their singles matches. Tuzhikova won her match in straight sets over Drucker, 6-3, 6-0. Casey won with relative ease over sophomore Larkin at the No. 5 slot, 6-0, 6-1.
Colvin was winning her No. 3 bout 6-2, 3-0 when her opponent Piscitelli retired.
Freshman Christie Schneider entered her match with fresh legs after sitting out the doubles action and played a three-set match against freshman Emily Bruch. Schneider ultimately won the No. 6 singles match by the score of 6-2, 6-7, (10-2).
With the win over Lehigh the Bison snapped an 11-match losing streak.
The Bison have a short rest before returning to action tomorrow at West Point, N.Y., when they take on Army in another conference contest. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m.
Bucknell 5, Lehigh 2
Doubles
1. Daria Tuzhikova/Elena Vidrascu (BU) def. Jenai Bilimoria/Abby Farrell (L), 8-4
2. Courtney Casey/Lydia Colvin (BU) def. Elizabeth Piscitelli/Gabby Drucker (L), 8-6
3. Dumitrita Iepuras /Lauren Boone (BU) def. Jill Sloand/Kathleen Larkin (L), 8-5
Singles
1. Jenai Bilimoria (L) def. Dumitrita Iepuras (BU), 6-2, 1-6, (10-8)
2. Abby Farrell (L) def. Elena Vidrascu (BU), 6-2, 6-7, (10-8)
3. Lydia Colvin (BU) def. Elizabeth Piscitelli (L), 6-2, 3-0 Retired
4. Daria Tuzhikova (BU) def. Gabby Drucker (L), 6-3, 6-0
5. Courtney Casey (BU) def. Kathleen Larkin (L), 6-0, 6-1
6. Christie Schneider (BU) def. Emily Bruch (L), 6-2, 6-7, (10-2)
