WEST WINSOR, N.J. – The LIU Brooklyn women's tennis team fought hard against Quinnipiac Saturday morning at the 2013 Northeast Conference Tennis Championships, but could not get past the Bobcats, losing 4-2 at the Mercer County Tennis Center. The Blackbirds dropped the doubles point, which proved to be the crucial advantage Quinnipiac would need to take the win and advance to the championship match.
LIU got off to a good start in the doubles, as sophomore Sanne Louwers and senior Taysha Blessington won the in top spot, 8-5. Quinnipiac came back to take a win at No.2 singles, as senior Aleksandra Pavlovic and sophomore Katya Yegoreychenko fell to Jacqueline Raynor and Michelle Dassa, 8-4.
The point came down to No.3 doubles, where Nancy Zonneveld and Lisa Maas were battling it out with Mary Chupa and Ariana Launie. Down, 7-6, Zonneveld and Maas were able to break serve and tie the match at 7-7. But Quinnipiac held serve and broke the Blackbirds, taking the win, 9-7, and giving Quinnipiac a 1-0 advantage in the early goings.
Singles proved to be an even 50/50 split. Sophomore Nancy Zonneveld got the first team point for LIU, beating Launie in the No.6 singles spot, 6-0, 6-3. With the match score tied, 1-1, the Blackbirds got their first advantage of the day, when sophomore Sanne Louwers beat Rachel Cantor in the No.1 singles spot, 6-3, 6-2, to go up, 2-1 on the Bobcats.
But Quinnipiac would finish three singles matches in quick succession to clinch the match. Senior Taysha Blessington was the first to fall, as she lost to Raynor in the No.2 spot, 6-3, 6-4. Then, junior Lisa Maas fell to Dassa at No.4, 6-3, 6-2. With the match on the line, and Quinnipiac up, 3-2, the Bobcats got the win they needed in the No.3 spot, where Sarah Viebrock beat sophomore Katya Yegoreychenko, 6-1, 6-3.
The final match at No.5 saw senior Aleksandra Pavlovic rallying back from a first set loss. She led Mary Chupa, 3-6, 6-3, 2-1 when the match was clinched and play was suspended.
With the loss, LIU finished the season 10-4 overall and 4-1 in NEC matches.
Quinnipiac 4, LIU Brooklyn 2
Doubles
1. Sanne Louwers/Taysha Blessington (LIU) def, Rachel Cantor/Sarah Viebrock (QU), 8-5
2. Jacqueline Raynor/Michelle Dassa (QU) def. Aleksandra Pavlovic/Katya Yegoreychenko (LIU), 8-4
3. Mary Chupa/Ariana Launie (QU) def. Nancy Zonneveld/Lisa Maas (LIU), 9-7
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3*
Singles
1. Sanne Louwers (LIU) def. Rachel Cantor (QU), 6-3, 6-2
2. Jacqueline Rayner (QU) def. Taysha Blessington (LIU), 6-3, 6-4
3. Sarah Viebrock (QU) def. Katya Yegoreychenko (LIU), 6-1, 6-3
4. Michelle Dassa (QU) def. Lisa Maas (LIU), 6-3, 6-2
5. Mary Chupa (QU) vs. Aleksandra Pavlovic (LIU), 6-3, 3-6, 1-3 DNF
6. Nancy Zonneveld (LIU) def. Ariana Launie (QU), 6-0, 6-3
Order of finish: 6, 1, 2, 4, 3*