NEW HAVEN, CT – The St. Thomas Aquinas College women’s tennis team lost a 4-3 heartbreaker to New Haven University.  The short-handed Spartans looked to have momentum on their side after winning the doubles point, but ran into a buzzsaw during singles action.

Ayesha Burnett ’23 (Wellington, New Zealand) made it 2-0 for the visitors with a 7-6 (3) 6-0 victory at fifth singles, and Cassandra Rohr ’21 (Mallorca, Spain) would tack on another point with a 6-1, 7-5 win at third singles before the Spartans dropped the remaining four matches for the loss.  The win was the eleventh-consecutive dual match victory for Rohr, who moved into sole possession of second place all time for career singles wins.

The Spartans are next up against Kutztown University for Senior Day on Tuesday, October 22.  Due to inclement weather, the match will be held at Washington Township Tennis & Fitness Club.  First serve is set for 3:00 PM.

New Haven 4, St. Thomas Aquinas 3

Doubles

1.     Shutko/Lopez (STAC) def. Gonzalez/Banks (UNH), 6-4

2.     Mentrup/Burnett (STAC) def. Rodriguez/Mika (UNH), 6-4

3.     Orlando/MacPhail (UNH) def. Rohr/O’Brien, 7-6 (6)

Order of Finish:  2, 1, 3

Singles

1.     Stephanie Gonzalez (UNH) def. Sofia Shutko (STAC), 7-5, 6-3

2.     Lilia Rodriguez (UNH) def. Carla Mentrup (STAC), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

3.     Cassandra Rohr (STAC) def. Nicole Mika (UNH), 6-1, 7-5

4.     Kacie Banks (UNH) def. Katarina Lopez (STAC), 6-4, 6-0

5.     Ayesha Burnett (STAC) def. Katherine MacPhail (UNH), 7-6 (3), 6-0

6.     Alexa Orlando (UNH) def. Maya O’Brien (STAC), 7-5, 7-6 (4)

Order of Finish:  5, 3, 1, 4, 6, 2*

St. Thomas Aquinas – 9-4 (3-2 ECC)

New Haven – 8-5 (5-5 NE10)