SPARKILL, NY – Saturday’s women’s tennis match between St. Thomas Aquinas college and LIU Post proved to be yet another close one, as the visiting Pioneers barely edged out the host Spartans, 5-4. Tied at 4-4, the deciding point was scored at fourth singles, which was the last match of the day.  For STAC, it was their third consecutive match against a regionally ranked opponent, having been outscored by a narrow 16-11 margin.

Sophomore Katarina Lopez (New City, NY) and senior Carolyn Kopf (Garnerville, NY) teamed at third doubles to win their second straight contest, 8-1.  Kopf would also take a win at sixth singles, 6-2, 6-3.  In the closest match of the day, Lopez would pull out a fifth singles win that went to three sets, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-4.  In each set, Lopez found herself up 4-1, faltering in a tie break first set, while finding her footing to close out the match up in the second and third sets.  Lopez and Kopf were the only double winners for the Spartans, while Lopez remains unbeaten (4-0) in singles play on the year.

Cassandra Rohr (Mallorca, Spain) shook off a close loss in her previous match to win at third singles, 6-4, 6-3.  The freshman German, by way of Spain, was a model of consistency as she played a smart match and forced her opponent into a plethora of errors. 

The Lady Spartans are next in action on Wednesday, September 20 at Jefferson University.  First serve is set for 3:30 PM, rain or shine.

LIU Post 5, STAC 4

Doubles

1.     Scholtze/Koudelkova (LIUP) def. Engstrand/O’Brien (STAC), 8-5

2.     Arthur/Klymova (LIUP) def. Kanefu/Rohr (STAC), 8-3

3.     Lopez/Kopf (STAC) def. Hynes/Jud (LIUP), 8-1

Singles

1.     Lara Scholtze (LIUP), def. Nyenyeri Kanefu (STAC), 6-3, 6-3

2.     Shanice Arthur (LIUP) def. Lovisa Engstrand (STAC), 6-4, 6-3

3.     Cassandra Rohr (STAC) def. Stanislava Klymova (LIUP), 6-3, 6-4

4.     Veronika Koudelkova (LIUP) def. Sara O’Brien (STAC), 6-3, 6-0

5.     Katarina Lopez (STAC) def. Charlotte Hynes (LIUP), 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-4

6.     Carolyn Kopf (STAC) def. Meagan Byrnes (STAC), 6-2, 6-3

Order of Finish:           Doubles  (3, 2, 1)        Singles  (6, 2, 3, 5, 1, 4*)