ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Navy women's tennis (1-0) returned to competition for the first time in 345 days with a 5-2 win over George Washington (0-1) on Saturday morning at the Tose Family Tennis Center.
Saturday's win for the Midshipmen marked the first time they have defeated the Colonials in back-to-back meetings after Navy won last year's contest in Washington, D.C., 4-3.
"Today's match was a great team win for Navy, but both teams won in a sense because we had the opportunity to play," head coach
Keith Puryear commented. "With everything going on, how so many families have been adversely affected by COVID-19, it gives a greater appreciation for the simple act of being able to play a tennis match in the Tose Family Tennis Center. It was great to see the ladies in action after almost a year."
In its first match of the season, Navy got off to a strong start and swept the doubles point against George Washington. The pair of
Miranda Deng (Sr., North Potomac, Md.) and
Jillian Taggart (So., Fair Oaks, Calif.) got the Midshipmen started with a 6-0 win at No. 1 doubles against Alexis Nelson and Stella Wiesemann.
Katreina Corpuz (Jr., Ewa Beach, Hawaii) and
Meghana Komarraju (Jr., Vienna, Va.) followed with a 6-0 win of their own against Luciana Kunkel and Sarah Bodewes at No. 2 doubles.
With the doubles point already in hand, Navy's freshmen pair of
Corinne Farid (Fr., Columbia, Mo.) and
Samantha Johns (Fr., Simpsonville, S.C.) won five-straight games after dropping the opening game to win 6-2 against Alexandra Vesikallio and Lindsay Thompson at the No. 3 doubles spot.
"The doubles matches were clean. I thought we did a great job of playing the way we have been focusing on in our practices. All three teams got off to good starts and were able to maintain the momentum throughout the set," Puryear said.
Navy kept the momentum from doubles action and posted the first win in singles matches to double its lead after Deng notched a 6-0, 6-2 win against Kunkel at No. 4 singles. The Colonials recorded their first point of the match at No. 1 singles after Wiesemann beat Taggart in a 6-2, 6-3 contest. Komarraju put the Midshipmen on the brink of victory at No. 3 singles with her 6-1, 7-5 win against Vesikallio. Navy's clinching point came from Johns in straight sets at No. 6 singles. After falling behind Charlotte Bell early in the first set, Johns rallied to win the opening stanza, 7-5, and then rolled to a 6-2 win in the second set to seal Navy's win.
In the final two matches on the court, Corpuz won a 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 decision over Bodewes at No. 5 singles, while Nelson edged out
Kacey Moore (Jr., Wellington, Fla.) at No. 2, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, as the Midshipmen ended their 345-day layoff with a 5-2 win over the Colonials.
In an exhibition match,
Stella Ribaudo (Fr., Chicago, Ill.) began her collegiate career with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Thompson to close out the day.
"George Washington did a good job of fighting back after losing the doubles point, but I liked our response," Puryear continued. "We did not waver, fighting hard to keep the match flow in our favor. Miranda led the way, playing a very decisive match, leading her match from start to finish. Both Sam and Meghana had sets where they had to battle through some adversity, Sam in the first set and Meghana in the second, but I liked their responses. They both did a good job of sticking with their game plans throughout the match.
"Katreina played a really tough match as well. I was impressed by the persistence she showed. After toughing out the first set, she was able to get out in front and maintain her lead to close it out. Coach Ale and I also that while Jill and Kacey, at Nos. 1 and 2, did not get the win, their play and grit bode well for their success as we continue to compete this season," Puryear mentioned.
"It was good to finally have the chance to see our freshmen get their first taste of collegiate competition. Sam and Corinne played great ball at No. 3 doubles," Puryear concluded. "Sam then followed that up by winning the deciding point for the match at No. 6 singles. In the extra match played, Stella's decision-making was spot on as she played a very comprehensive match today. We now shift our focus to our impending match next week with Towson."
Navy continues its homestand next Sunday against Towson at 2 p.m. from the Tose Family Tennis Center.
