Tennis Completes First Day at USTA Collegiate Invitational
10/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Anna Guryanova (Moscow, Russia) and Maria Del Rosario Rodriguez (Bogotá, Colombia) continue to be a strong presence in the Pirates' lineup. Down 1-6 in their opening match of D flight doubles competition, the two freshmen rallied to tie the match at 6-6 before eventually falling to Blessington/Zonneveld of Long Island University 8-6. In the ensuing consolation match, Guryanova and Rodriguez rebounded to record what would be the only win of the day for SHU, downing BIG EAST foes Firat/Pogribnyak of St. John's 8-5.
The Pirates B flight doubles entry was comprised of junior Karina Cordero (Maracay Estado Aragua, Venezuela) and Courtney Kilarski (Roseville, Calif.), a team that has experienced a high level of success to this point in the season. Cordero and Kilarski struggled to find a rhythm, dropping both of their matches on the day. In main draw play the pair fell 3-8 to the Red Storm team of Selekavi/Zwirbulis before dropping their consolation match to Brown's team of Caldwell and Herzberg 2-8.
Despite not recording a win, the Pirates' singles matches were filled with spirited efforts. Sophomore Rocio Portela (Demetrio Vega Baja, Puerto Rico) fell short against Stefania Balasa of Rutgers in a 4-6, 6-4, 8-10 heartbreaker. Senior Elizabeth Verow (Barnt Green, England) also pushed her opponent to three sets. In E flight singles play, Verow battled second-seeded Della Taylor of Army in a 5-7, 7-5, 1-10 affair.
Madison Shoemaker (Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia) continued to show flashes of potential in her H flight singles match with #1 seed Franziska Sprinkmeyer of Northern Texas. The freshman rallied to tie the first set at 4-4 after dropping four of the first five games. Shoemaker would eventually lose the first set 4-6, but would rebound to jump out to a 4-1 lead in the second set. In the end, Sprinkmeyer would outlast Shoemaker and take the second set 7-5, securing the victory.
Pui Wing Sher (Shui Wai, Hong Kong) was also in action for SHU. Sher fell in straight sets 3-6, 4-6 to Fairleigh Dickinson's Elmine Botes in B flight singles play.
Matches continue Sunday, October 9th from the National Tennis Center. Admission is again free for all fans wishing to attend.
