March 10, 2008

The Providence College tennis team traveled to West Point, N.Y. on Friday, March 7 for three days of matches against Seton Hall, Army, and Marist. The Friars dropped their first two matches against Seton Hall and Army, 7-0, and fell to Marist, 5-2. Providence currently holds a 5-5 overall record.

The Seton Hall Pirates defeated the Friars on Friday, March 7. The lone victory was in third doubles with Freshmen Ayushi Sinha (Mumbai, India) and Kim Betzner (Walpole, Mass.) defeating Alexandra Harvey and Liza Chu, 8-3. Freshman Avery Gibson (Fairfield, Iowa) returned to the linup and played well, dropping to senior Nadezhda Shein. Betzner had a strong showing in No. 5 singles, losing to Belfin Sunbul, 6-4, 6-3.

On Saturday, March 8, the Friars took on Army on their home courts. Providence dropped their second match of the weekend, getting swept, 7-0. The match was highlighted by strong singles play by Ashley Rissolo (Southport, Conn.), Avery Gibson, Jen Cusack (Bayport, N.Y.) and Ayushi Sinha. Dara Hawkins Hodgson (South Euclid, Ohio) remained out of the line up due to illness.

Providence finished their weekend in West Point with a match against Marist, in which they fell, 5-2. The Friars positioned themselves to pull out the victory in singels, having the last three matches go into the third set, but Marist prevailed at No. 3 singles to settle the score. Strong performances by freshmen Avery Gibson, Ayushi Sinha, Kim Betzner and senior Kate Lyons (Barrington, R.I.) highlighted the match. Betzner and Sinha have continued to improve in their doubles play.

The Friars return to action on Saturday, March 15 when they travel to Fairfield, Conn. to take on Sacred Heart. The match is set for a 1:00 p.m. start.

Seton Hall 7, Providence College 0

3/7/08

Singles:

1. Liebschner (SH) def. Rissolo 6-1,6-0

2. Shein (SH) def. Gibson 6-3,6-0

3. Viola (SH) def. Sinha 6-1,6-1

4. El-Tobgy (SH) def. Cusack 6-1,6-1

5. Sunbul (SH) def. Lyons 6-2,6-0

5. Kaplanska (SH) def. Betzner 6-4,6-3

Doubles:

1. Shein/Liebschner (SH) def. Rissolo/Gibson 8-0

2. El-Tobgy/Viola (SH) def. Cusack/Lyons 8-1

3. Sinha/Betzner (PC) def. Harvey/Chu 8-3

Army 7, Providence College 0

3/8/08

Singles:

1. Alquero (A) def. Rissolo 6-2,6-1

2. Shurtz (A) def. Gibson 7-6 (11-9), 6-3

3. Ahn (A) def. Sinha 6-2,6-0

4. Verano (A) def. Cusack 6-2,6-2

5. Hansen (A) def. Lyons 6-0,6-0

6. Hang (A) def. Betzner 6-2,6-0

Doubles:

1. Alquero/Giles-Madden (A) def. Rissolo/Gibson 8-1

2. Limsiaco/Burke (A) def. Sinha/Betzner 8-2

3. Verano/Mendoza (A) def. Lyons/Cusack 8-1

Marist 5, Providence College 2

3/9/08

Singles:

1. Ong (m) def Rissolo 6-1, 6-0

2. C Strange M) def Gibson 7-5, 6-7 (7-4), 6-2

3. A Strange (M) def Sinha 7-5, 3-6, 6-4

4. Fouche (M) def Cusack 6-0, 6-4

5. Lyons (pc) def Lukin 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5)

6. Betzner (pc) def Byron 6-3, 6-2

Doubles

1. Godly/A. Strange (m) def Rissolo/Gibson 8-2

2. Ong/C. Strange (M) def Cusack/Lyons 8-4

3. Fouche/Lukin (m) def Sinha/Betzner 8-4