WEST CHESTER, PA – In a showdown of regionally-ranked foes, the St. Thomas Aquinas College women’s tennis team prevailed at Atlantic Region No. 10 West Chester University by a 7-0 margin. The Golden Rams entered the match with a 5-2 record, while the Spartans were in action for the first time since March 13.
The Spartans jumped on the board early, winning the doubles point by virtue of wins at first and third doubles, respectively, while the Golden Rams took second doubles with a 7-2 set tie-break score. Karina Blas ‘22 (Tarnow, Poland) and Samanta Villegas ‘23 (Leon, Mexico) picked up their first win of the season as a pairing with a 6-1 mark in the top slot. Viktoriia Pavlovets ’23 (St. Petersburg, Russia) and Eliza Mulder ’23 (Schoonhoven, Netherlands) moved to 2-0 on the season with a 6-3 triumph at third doubles.
Jemima Parkinson ’24 (Gloucester, England) would make it 2-0 for the Spartans with a 6-2, 6-1 win at third singles, utilizing deft footwork skills to effortlessly cover the entire court. Ayesha Burnett ’23 (Wellington, New Zealand) would follow suit at fourth singles with a 6-4, 6-1 victory that saw her showcase her tremendous volley game at the net. Mulder would take the clincher at fifth singles, while newcomer Dauphine Donker ’24 (Amersfoort, Netherlands) would push the lead to 5-0 for the visitors while picking up her first career win at sixth singles.
At first singles, Blas saw herself down 4-1 in the first set before she was able to tap into her reserve energy to win 7-4 in a tie break. She would take the second set 6-2 while keeping her opponent guessing throughout. The closest contest of the day was at second singles, where Pavlovets dropped her first set in a tie break. Evening the match at one set apiece, she ultimately made it a sweet for the Spartans with a 10-8 super tie break win.
The Spartans are now 2-0 heading into ECC play this weekend, where they face conference newcomer D’Youville and fellow Buffalo institution Daemen on Saturday, before facing off against D’Youville again on Sunday.
T5/- St. Thomas Aquinas College 7, 10/- West Chester University 0
Doubles
1. Karina Blas/Samanta Villegas (STAC) def. Tori Alexander/Leandra Roelker (WCU), 6-1
2. Davica Massaro/Alyssa Skulsky (WCU) def. Jemima Parkinson/Ayesha Burnett (STAC), 7-6 (2)
3. Viktoriia Pavlovets/Eliza Mulder (STAC) def. Shannon Nixon/Julia Mowrey (WCU), 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 3*, 2
Singles
1. Karina Blas (STAC) def. Tori Alexander (WCU) – 7-6 (4), 6-2
2. Viktoriia Pavlovets (STAC) def. Davica Massaro (WCU) – 6-7 (5), 6-3, 1-0 (8)
3. Jemima Parkinson (STAC) def. Leandra Roelker (WCU) – 6-2, 6-1
4. Ayesha Burnett (STAC) def. Alyssa Skulsky (WCU) – 6-4, 6-1
5. Eliza Mulder (STAC) def. Elaina Rochford (WCU) – 6-1, 6-2
6. Dauphine Donker (STAC) def. Shannon Nixon (WCU) – 6-0, 6-4
Order of Finish: 3, 4, 5*, 6, 1, 2
T5/- STAC - 2-0 (0-0 ECC)
10/- WCU - 5-3 (3-0 PSAC)