Women's Tennis Falls to Villanova; Match Against Morgan State Moved to Williamsport on Saturday

Thursday, March 28

Lewisburg, Pa. / Varsity Courts

4 p.m.

Bucknell University

Villanova

Women's Tennis Falls to Villanova; Match Against Morgan State Moved to Williamsport on Saturday

3/28/2019 10:07:00 PM | Women's Tennis

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell women's tennis lost a closely-contested match with Villanova on Thursday, falling 4-2 at the Varsity Courts. The Bison dropped to 9-4 overall, while the Wildcats improved to 4-7.

The Bison won the doubles point for the fourth straight match and the 11^th time in 13 contests on the season. Paige Leavy and Cayla Koch were 6-2 winners on court one, while Daniela Bellini and Sofia Ayuso shut out their opponents on court two.

Both of those doubles tandems have been successful this spring. Leavy and Koch are 9-3, while Bellini and Ayuso improved to 8-3. The Bison are 28-9 in doubles overall.

Koch notched Bucknell's lone singles point, beating Lindsey Evans by 6-4, 6-4 scores on court two. The sophomore is 9-4 during the spring, with all 13 matches being played on court two.

"It was a good match for the most part. We came out with a lot of energy early on, but I think we let it slip away late in the match," Bucknell head coach Rebecca Helt said. "Our doubles look solid right now. We just need to keep working on the little things that are holding us back from playing a complete match."

Bellini was in a close battle on court one before the overall match was clinched. She and Lexi DeNucci were tied at one set apiece and at 2-2 in the third set when play was halted.

Bucknell will play a non-conference match against Morgan State at the Central PA Tennis Center in Williamsport on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Villanova 4, Bucknell 2
3/28/19 at Lewisburg, Pa. (Varsity Courts)

Singles competition

1. Daniela Bellini (BUCKNELL) vs. Lexi DeNucci (VU) 5-7, 6-2, 2-2, unfinished

2. Cayla Koch (BUCKNELL) def. Lindsey Evans (VU) 6-4, 6-4

3. Kaylan Rotman (VU) def. Paige Leavy (BUCKNELL) 7-5, 6-4

4. Alexandra Vesikallio (VU) def. Mishi Papich (BUCKNELL) 6-4, 6-3

5. Carina Burdick (VU) def. Sofia Ayuso (BUCKNELL) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0

6. Olivia Kapp (VU) def. Jill Auteri (BUCKNELL) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. Paige Leavy/Cayla Koch (BUCKNELL) def. Lindsey Evans/Alexandra Vesikallio (VU) 6-2

2. Daniela Bellini/Sofia Ayuso (BUCKNELL) def. Lexi DeNucci/Olivia Kapp (VU) 6-0

3. Carina Burdick/Kaylan Rotman (VU) def. Mishi Papich/Jill Auteri (BUCKNELL) 6-0

Match Notes