Flushing, N.Y. - The Long Island University women's tennis team earned a 5-2 win over Sacred Heart in spontaneously windy conditions at the USTA Tennis Center. The victory gave the Blackbirds a win in their first Northeast Conference match of the season.

 

In doubles action, the No. 3 duo of seniors Stephanie Elie and Dara Lahens defeated the Pioneers' pairing of Kate Donnelly and Delaney Downing, 8-3. Shortly thereafter, the Blackbirds' top pair of reigning NEC Co-Player of the Week Selma Babic and NEC Rookie of the Week Aleksandra Pavlovic downed Darcy Demers and Julianne Kasinow, 8-5, to secure the doubles point for Long Island. Sacred Heart came from behind at No. 2, winning via tiebreaker. Elizabeth Harrington and Kristina Chao turned the tables on senior H'Ann Johnson and freshman Taysha Blessington, 8-7 (7-4).

 

In singles play, Babic made quick work of Donnelly at the top spot, earning a 6-1; 6-2 victory. At No. 6, Johnson defeated Downing, 6-1; 6-3. In the fourth slot, Blessington dealt Chao a 6-2; 6-2 loss and Pavlovic defeated Harrington by the same margin at No. 3.

 

The Blackbirds improved to 5-2 with the win while Sacred Heart fell to 7-8. Long Island will return to action on Saturday, March 27 with a visit to Saint Peter's to take on both the Peahens and St. John's.

 

1. Selma Babic (LIU) def. Kate Donnelly (SHU), 6-1; 6-2

2. Darcy Demers (SHU) def. Linn Sjogren (LIU), 6-3; 6-4

3. Aleksandra Pavlovic (LIU) def. Elizabeth Harrington (SHU), 6-2; 6-2

4. Taysha Blessington (LIU) def. Kristina Chao (SHU), 6-2; 6-2

5. Julianne Kasinow (SHU) def. Stephanie Elie (LIU), 6-4; 6-7; 10-5

6. H'Ann Johnson (LIU) def. Delaney Downing (SHU), 6-1; 6-3

 

1. Babic/Pavlovic (LIU) def. Demers/Kasinow (SHU), 8-5

2. Harrington/Chao (SHU) def. Johnson/Blessington (LIU), 8-7 (7-4)

3. Elie/Dara Lahens (LIU) def. Donnelly/Downing (SHU), 8-3