COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Forced inside due to Winter Storm Stella, the Ursinus College women's tennis team won its home opener in impressive fashion on Saturday, picking up an 8-1 result in a highly competitive non-conference clash with York (Pa.).
Juniors Ariel Danziger and Aileen Bevard continued to improve their place in program history with two more wins for each as the Bears (6-1) extended their winning streak to four and handed the Spartans (3-1) their first loss.
Danziger teamed with freshman Caitlyn Sorelle for a 9-7 victory over Rachel Wagner ad Mckenzie Krout at number two doubles, running their still unblemished record to 11-0 on the year, and edged Darian Naill by an 8-6 count at number four singles. Danizger's singles triumph moved her into second in program history with 69 overall wins.
Bevard, meanwhile, took over sole possession of second place on the program's all-time singles wins list (34) with a gutty victory in a thrilling match with Katie Wagner at number one. The competitors split a pair of tiebreakers in the first two sets, Bevard winning the first 7-1 and Wagner the second by a 7-3 score, before Bevard clinched the match with a 10-5 result in the third-set super tiebreaker.
Earlier in the day, Bevard became the fourth player in school lore to reach 60 career wins after pairing with junior Ashley Nguyen for an 8-2 rout of Katie Wagner and Naill at number one doubles.
Seniors Robin Alsher and Christine Palazzolo produced an 8-4 defeat of Gina Liguori and Carter Vaughn at number three doubles.
Nguyen was first off the singles courts with a 6-2, 6-3 win against Krout at number three, and Sorelle – the reigning Centennial Conference Player of the Week – came up with a 6-4, 6-4 decision opposite Rachel Wagner at number two to officially clinch the match.
Maisie Supp edged Alsher, 8-6, at number five to get the Spartans on the board, but Palazzolo outlasted Liguori, 9-7, at number six to provide the final margin.
The women's tennis team opens conference play at Franklin & Marshall on Saturday, March 25.
