Bucknell University
Bryant
Women's Tennis Edges Defending NEC Champion Bryant, 4-3
3/17/2016 8:31:00 PM | Women's Tennis
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Bucknell women's tennis team closed its four-match trip to Florida with a 4-3 win over Bryant at the Star Island Resort on Thursday. It was the Bison's second win over a 2015 NCAA Tournament participant in a span of three days.
The Bison improved to 5-4 after going 2-2 during their spring trip. They posted a 5-2 win over defending MAAC champion Quinnipiac on Tuesday, while Thursday's victory came over a Bryant team that advanced to the 2015 NCAA Tournament following a title at the NEC Tournament.
“Much like the Quinnipiac match, we had to fight hard for this win after dropping the doubles point,” said Bucknell head coach Rebecca Helt. “This was another really good, close match and I like that we have players who are stepping up in the big moments.”
Multiple players came through in the clutch for Bucknell, including Lisa Jouravleva with the match-clinching win at No. 2 singles. She won the first set 7-5 over Linnea Sjoberg, before dropping the second set 6-4. With the team's result on the line, she dominated the third-set super-break 10-1.
Jouravleva wasn't the only Bison player to roll through a third-set super-break. Madeline Melch did the same, clinching her win with a 10-2 victory after falling in the first set 6-1 and winning the second set 6-4.
Maria Cioffi and Lauren Fishbein continued to lead the charge for Bucknell, posting wins at No. 1 and No. 3 singles, respectively. Cioffi won for the fifth straight match and improved to 6-2 this spring with a 6-3, 6-3 victory. Fishbein upped her spring record to 7-1 with a 6-1, 6-4 decision.
Bucknell returns to action on Wednesday when it travels to play a non-conference match at Mount St. Mary's. The match is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Players Mentioned
