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Women's Tennis Defeats Simmons For First Time Since 2001, 5-4, During GNAC Opener
Posted: Sep 16, 2023

Women's Tennis Defeats Simmons For First Time Since 2001, 5-4, During GNAC Opener

Custom link Box Score
Team Stats
Doubles
Kathleen Gilland / Liliana Garcia (USJ)
def. Emilie Lapointe / Emma Parsons (SIM)
8-5
Ananya Srivatsav / Jillian Milo (USJ)
def. Megan Baadsgaard / Laura Lowe (SIM)
8-2
Emily Lopez / Sara Fucilllo (SIM)
def. Gia Alvarez / Nina Gardella (USJ)
8-4
Singles
Emilie Lapointe (SIM)
def. Kathleen Gilland (USJ)
7-5, 6-0
Liliana Garcia (USJ)
def. Megan Baadsgaard (SIM)
6-3, 6-3
Ananya Srivatsav (USJ)
def. Emily Lopez (SIM)
1-6, 6-4, 6-3
Sara Fucilllo (SIM)
def. Gia Alvarez (USJ)
7-6, 6-4
Laura Lowe (SIM)
def. Jillian Milo (USJ)
6-3, 4-6, 6-1
Daynah Echevarria (USJ)
def. Emma Parsons (SIM)
6-3, 3-6, 6-3

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's tennis team defeated the Simmons University (Simmons) Sharks for the first time since 2001 in thrilling fashion, 5-4, at home during the team's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener Saturday afternoon at the Elizabeth Ferry Speer Tennis Complex in West Hartford, Conn. With the result, the Blue Jays improve to 1-3 overall and 1-0 in GNAC play, while the Sharks drop to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

KEY MOMENTS

  • The USJ duo of senior Ananya Srivatsav (South Windsor, Conn.) and freshman Nina Gardella (Lebanon, Conn.), started the match with a bang for the Blue Jays at No. 2 doubles, defeating Simmons' Megan Baadsgaard and Laura Lowe, 8-2.
  • Simmons would tie the match at No. 3 doubles, as Emily Lopez and Sara Fucillo defeated USJ's team of sophomore Gia Alvarez (Meriden, Conn.) and freshman Jillian Milo (Southington, Conn.), 8-4, to tie the match at 1-1.
  • The team of senior Kathleen Gilland (Wethersfield, Conn.) and sophomore Liliana Garcia (Wethersfield, Conn.) gave USJ the lead to conclude the doubles portion of the match, taking down Emilie Lapointe and Emma Parsons, 8-5, to give the Blue Jays a 2-1 edge.
  • Simmons wasted little time to tie the match during the singles matches, as Lapointe defeated Gilland in straight sets, 7-5, 6-0, at No. 1 singles, tying the match at 2-2.
  • Garcia quickly swung the lead back in USJ's favor, taking down Simmons' Baadsgaard in straight sets at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 6-3.
  • Lowe would keep the match close after No. 5 singles, defeating Milo in a three-set thriller, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, to tie the match at 3-3.
  • Srivatsav again gave the Blue Jays the lead at No. 3 singles, coming back from an early deficit to defeat Lopez, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, to see the Blue Jays take a 4-3 edge in the match.
  • Fucillo kept the Sharks in the match at No. 4 singles, edging out Alvarez, 7-6, 6-4, sending the match into an all-deciding final match deadlocked at 4-4.
  • Freshman Daynah Echevarria (New Britain, Conn.) would come up big for the Blue Jays at No. 6 singles, holding on to defeat Parsons in three-sets, 6-3,3-6,6-3, to secure the win for USJ, 5-4. 

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays take a quick break from GNAC play, hosting intrastate foe Western Connecticut on Monday, September 18. First serve against the Wolves on the Elizabeth Ferry Speer Tennis Complex is set for 3:30 p.m.

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