Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Quinnipiac
Women's Tennis Knocks Off Defending MAAC Champion Quinnipiac 5-2
3/15/2016 10:49:00 PM | Women's Tennis
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Bucknell women's tennis team opened its spring break trip on a high note, knocking off defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) champion Quinnipiac 5-2 on Tuesday at the Lake Cane Tennis Center. The Bobcats are one of two returning national qualifiers that the Bison will play while in Florida.
“We started the match tight and defensive in doubles, which got us off to a rough start,” said Bucknell head coach Rebecca Helt. “It was a battle on every singles court, and every player had to fight hard for that team win. With 90-plus degree weather, it was impressive to watch the team work that hard.”
Bucknell improved to 4-2 with wins in four of its past five matches. Quinnipiac dropped to 4-7, including an 0-2 mark against Patriot League opponents.
Quinnipiac clinched the doubles point to take an early 1-0 lead, but Bucknell responded by winning five of six singles matches. The Bison were victorious in large part to a pair of three-set wins.
Maria Cioffi clinched the match for Bucknell with a huge three-set win over former MAAC Player of the Year Sophia Dzulynsky at No. 1 singles. Cioffi won the first set 7-6, but Dzulynsky tied the match with a 7-5 win in the second set. The Bison senior notched the win with a 10-7 verdict in the final set.
Cioffi's fellow senior co-captain had the other three-set win for Bucknell. Stephanie Pino topped Alexandra Mircea 7-5, 5-7, 10-6 at No. 6 singles.
Winning straight sets for the Bison were sophomore Lisa Jouravleva at No. 2, freshman Lauren Fishbein at No. 3 and sophomore Madeline Melch at No. 5. All three players recorded victories over All-MAAC players.
The Bison return to action with a pair of matches on Wednesday. They will play Fairleigh Dickinson and Milwaukee at Sanlando Park in Alamonte Springs, Florida.
Bucknell 5, Quinnipiac 2
3/15/2016 at Orlando, Fla. (Lake Cane Tennis Center)
| Singles competition |
| 1. Maria Cioffi (BUCKNELL) def. Sophia Dzulynsky (QUINN) 7-6, 5-7, 10-7 |
| 2. Lisa Jouravleva (BUCKNELL) def. Rachel Horton (QUINN) 6-1, 7-5 |
| 3. Lauren Fishbein (BUCKNELL) def. Sitilia Rencheli (QUINN) 6-1, 7-5 |
| 4. Jennifer Lu (QUINN) def. Michele Urbinati (BUCKNELL) 6-0, 5-7, 12-10 |
| 5. Madeline Melch (BUCKNELL) def. Sydney Young (QUINN) 6-1, 6-2 |
| 6. Stephanie Pino (BUCKNELL) def. Alexandra Mircea (QUINN) 7-5, 5-7, 10-6 |
| Doubles competition |
| 1. Rachel Horton/Sydney Young (QUINN) def. Maria Cioffi/Michele Urbinati (BUCKNELL) 6-4 |
| 2. Sophia Dzulynsky/Sitilia Rencheli (QUINN) def. Lisa Jouravleva/Lauren Fishbein (BUCKNELL) 6-3 |
| 3. Stephanie Pino/Emilie Bush (BUCKNELL) vs. Jennifer Lu/Proyfon Lohaphaisan (QUINN) 4-5, unfinished |
Players Mentioned
