The Binghamton University women’s tennis team once again split a pair of weekend matches, defeating University of Pennsylvania and falling to University at Buffalo.
At Penn, the Bearcats (3-5) were able to secure a 5-2 victory over the Quakers in the dual match. In first singles, Penn’s Connie Hsu defeated BU senior Anna Edelman 6-1, 6-2. Hsu is ranked No. 12 in the ITA’s national singles rankings. At second singles, junior Jillian Santos defeated Alexa Ely 6-2, 6-4, and fellow junior Marina Bykovskaya bested Stephanie Do in three sets at fourth singles, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. At fifth and sixth singles, junior Emma Leibowicz defeated Daniella DePaoli 7-5, 6-3 and senior Lauren Bates defeated Emma Whitfield 5-7, 7-5, 6-4. Senior Yulia Smirnova suffered the only loss at third singles, as Jaime Yapp-Shing bested her 6-2, 6-4. In doubles, Edelman and junior Yagmur Gone fell at the first spot to Alexa Ely and Hsu by a score of 8-3. The Bearcats won the doubles point, however, with wins at second and third doubles, with the duos of Santos and Smirnova, and Bykovskaya and Leibowicz notching wins.
“[Friday] we were able to put into matches what we’ve been practicing. Our focus was a lot sharper and we were successful because of it,” said BU head coach Libby McGovern, according to a Binghamton University press release.
In the second match of the weekend, the Bearcats lost yet another close match at the University at Buffalo, 4-3, despite getting out to an early 3-0 lead. Binghamton then lost the next four singles matches. For the second straight match, the Bearcats cruised through the doubles portion, with wins at second and third doubles. Edelman and Gone lost a closely contested bout at first doubles to Diana Popescu and Miranda Podlas by a score of 9-7. Santos and Smirnova shut out Tamara Markovic and Marta Stoyanova 8-0, and Bykovskaya and Leibowicz defeated Aleksandra Petrova and Shelby Bates 8-5. In singles play, Edelman and Santos were the only two Bearcats to tally a victory, at first and second singles, respectively. Edelman defeated Popescu 6-1, 6-3, and Santos took care of Petrova, 6-3, 6-0. Smirnova, Bykovskaya, Leibowicz and Gone were all unable to come up with wins at the third through sixth spots.
The Bearcats will get plenty of rest as they are in the midst of a 12-day break from competition. Their next match is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start on Friday, March 18 at University at Albany.