Shoemaker Wins Decisive Match; Tennis Tops West Virginia, 4-3
4/14/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
The Pirates (7-13, 3-5) have now won two of their last three matches and have placed themselves squarely in the conversation to receive a BIG EAST Tournament bid.
West Virginia (4-15, 1-5) came into the match with only five available players, forcing them to forfeit at number six singles and the third doubles slot.
This meant SHU needed just one doubles win and two singles points to capture the victory.
Rocio Portela (Demetrio Vega Baja, Puerto Rico) and Chloe Sher (Tin Shui Wai, Hong Kong) continued their remarkable run from atop the squad's doubles lineup, adding to their school-record career win total by ousting Ikttesh Chahal and Mary Chupa, 8-4.
Portela and Sher jumped out to an early 5-2 advantage, only to see their opponents pull to within 5-4. With the momentum on WVU's side, the pair of second-year players rallied to take the next three games and clinch the all-important doubles point.
The sophomore duo is now unbeaten in their last 13 matches and has won 15 of 21 matches overall in 2011-12.
From the number one singles position, Sher continued to breeze past the competition, overpowering Chupa in a convincing 6-1, 6-4 win to notch the Pirates' third point of the day.
The victory was the fourth straight for Sher and her seventh in eight BIG EAST matches this season.
The Mountaineers refused to go quietly, scoring with wins in the second, third and fourth singles positions.
The comeback set the stage for the decisive match between Shoemaker and WVU senior Catie Wickline.
With the match, and perhaps the Pirates' postseason hopes on the line, Shoemaker calmly dispatched Wickline in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1.
The Hall improves to 3-0 in BIG EAST matches when Shoemaker tallies a singles point.
"On a day where we frankly needed to win, it was encouraging to see all the girls play with a fighting spirit that matched the moment," said head coach Greg Wyzykowski. "In the end, the positions that have been consistent for us all season stepped up again and we were able to get the job done."
Seton Hall wraps up its regular season schedule tomorrow, Sunday, April 15 with a showdown against #57 Syracuse. The match will serve as senior day for team members Courtney Kilarski (Roseville, Calif.) and Elizabeth Verow (Barnt Green, England).
Start-time is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. from the indoor courts at NJIT.
Following the conclusion of the schedule, Seton Hall will await an announcement from the BIG EAST Tennis Selection Committee on Monday to hear whether they have earned a spot in the conference tournament.
If the Pirates are selected, play will begin on Thursday, April 19 at the USF Varsity Courts in Tampa, Fla.
SHU has not appeared in the BIG EAST Tournament since 2006-07.
Seton Hall 4, West Virginia 3
Singles
1. Chloe Sher (SHU) def. Mary Chupa (WVU), 6-1, 6-4
2. Emily Mathis (WVU) def. Rocio Portela (SHU), 6-4, 6-2
3. Veronica Cardenas (WVU) def. Elizabeth Verow (SHU), 6-0, 6-2
4. Ikttesh Chahal (WVU) def. Karina Cordero (SHU), 6-3, 6-2
5. Madison Shoemaker (SHU) def. Catie Wickline (WVU), 6-3, 6-1
6. SHU def. WVU, default
Doubles
1. Portela/Sher (SHU) def. Chahal/Chupa (WVU), 8-4
2. Cardenas/Mathis (WVU) def. Shoemaker/Verow (SHU) 8-0
3. SHU def. WVU, default
