Navy Women's Tennis Falls to Rutgers, 4-3

March 1, 2015

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy women's tennis team (8-5) suffered a close 4-3 defeat to visiting Rutgers (5-3) on Sunday afternoon at the Tose Family Tennis Center. The match was even at 3-3 before the Scarlet Knights won a three-set match at No. 5 singles.

Big Ten member Rutgers won at No 1 doubles before Navy sophomore Summer Ralston and freshman Claudia Mackenzie won at No. 2 doubles over Lindsay Balsamo and Chloe Lee, 8-5. Rutgers then won an 8-6 decision at No. 3 doubles to win the doubles point.

Navy freshman Kristine Rojo evened the match at 1-1 by breezing past Lee Levy at No. 6 singles, 6-0, 6-0 and the Mids then took the lead when freshman Amanda Keller won in straight sets at No. 4 singles over Balsamo, 6-1, 6-4.

Rutgers then picked up victories at No. 3 and No. 1 singles before junior Logan Antill evened the match at 3-3 with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 win over Lindsey Kayati at No. 2 singles.

Rutgers' Miriam Zein then clinched the team win with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 win over sophomore Audrey Channell at No. 5 singles.

"We definitely had our chances in the doubles, as well as in the singles today," said head coach Keith Puryear. "We still almost pulled it off and it was a very good team effort. The last match really went down to the wire.

"But we know that teams won't give anything to us. We have to go out and take it and learn how to seal the deal. There are some positives that we can take away from this match, but we have to continue to focus on improving and do the things we need to do to win matches like this one today."

Navy will continue its competitive non-conference schedule by playing at No. 28 William & Mary on Saturday, March 7.

Rutgers defeats Navy, 4-3Doubles - Rutgers wins the doubles point, 2-1 (Finish: 1,2,3)No. 1 Gina Li / Mariam Zein (R) def. Noelle Kaufmann / Kristine Rojo (N), 8-3No. 2 Summer Ralston / Claudia Mackenzie (N) def. Lindsay Balsamo / Chloe Lee (R), 8-5No. 3 Lindsey Kayati / Lee Levy (R) def. Mikaela Carlson / Rozel Hernandez (N), 8-6
Singles (Finish: 6,4,3,1,2,5)No. 1 Gina Li (R) def. Sam Droop (N), 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2No. 2 Logan Antill (N) def. Lindsey Kayati (R), 6-4, 2-6, 6-4No. 3 Chloe Lee (R) def. Katie Porter (N), 6-4, 6-3No. 4 Amanda Keller (N) def. Lindsay Balsamo (R), 6-1, 6-4No. 5 Miriam Zein (R) def. Audrey Channell (N), 7-5, 4-6, 6-1No. 6 Kristine Rojo (N) def. Lee Levy (R), 6-0, 6-0