Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Tennis to Test Hofstra Saturday
2/21/2013 7:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 21, 2013
LEWISBURG, Pa. - After playing a pair of duals each of the last two weekends, Bucknell women's tennis will feel like it's on a mini-vacation with only a meeting with Hofstra at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Quakertown, Pa. The Bison will be looking to even their season record at 3-3 while the Pride is eying its first win of the season in the final outing before Bucknell heads to Puerto Rico for Spring Break.
Bucknell rebounded from a tough 4-3 loss to Niagara to take down St. Bonaventure 5-2 last Sunday. The Bison had two multi-winners in those battles. The tandem of Maria Cioffi and Elena Vidrascu swept their competition at No. 1 doubles, while Stephanie Pino collected a pair of quick victories at the bottom of the singles lineup.
Cioffi and Vidrascu are 3-0 when playing together in the spring, but their winning streak as a team extends to five matches going back to fall tournament play. Cioffi alone has six straight victories, bringing her season doubles record to a team-best 16-4.
With her two doubles victories last weekend, Vidrascu passed Cindy Appel (1979-83) and senior teammate Daria Tuzhikova on the all-time wins list. The junior is now tied with Kristina Lutter (1991-94) and Kim Regester (1981-85) for 14th with a 41-36 record. Vidrascu is also tied for 19th in singles wins (37-37) and 16th in combined victories (78-73).
Pino has been enjoying a successful stretch of her own. She and Kristen Bishof, who has not yet played in a dual match, currently have two-match winning streaks, the longest on the team. Pino got her second straight with a 6-0, 6-0 decision at fifth singles against St. Bonaventure, clinching the team victory and helping the Bison end a three-match skid.
Only two Bison on the current roster have wins over Hofstra in a dual match. Tuzhikova teamed up with Dumitrita Iepuras to help sweep doubles play when Bucknell defeated the Pride 6-1 in 2010. That was the last time the Bison won a dual against the New York squad. Last year it was Hofstra's turn to sweep doubles. Jen Bush took a 6-0, 6-4 victory at No. 4 singles as Bucknell fell 6-1. The all-time series record also stands at 6-1 in favor of the Bison.
Hofstra lost its top player from a year ago to graduation. Elena Ivanova was a Third Team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection for a squad that went 6-14 overall last season. This year, the Pride is 0-1 with a 4-3 loss to Long Island last Friday. Hofstra dropped all three doubles matches and split singles play against the Blackbirds.
Following its meeting with Hofstra, Bucknell will prepare to head south for its annual Spring Break Trip. The Bison will head a little bit farther south than usual, however, taking on Long Island (March 11), Old Dominion (March 12) and Minnesota State (March 14) in Humacao, Puerto Rico.
