ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Navy women's tennis (7-4) capped off its 2021 season in the Patriot League Championship Match with a 4-3 loss to Boston University (10-1). The Midshipmen won the doubles point but the Terriers rallied for the victory on Sunday at the Fluegel-Moore Tennis Stadium.
 
"It was another hard-fought match after the emotional win of yesterday," head coach Keith Puryear commented. "We did a great job of getting the doubles point. Kacey and Sam had been beaten thoroughly by the same team just one week ago, so to turn the tables was an excellent effort on their part. Miranda and Jill stepped up to give us the doubles point. Sam and Miranda then both played inspired tennis to get us two more points, but today we did not find the extra point needed to get our first Patriot League title.
 
"It definitely hurts for all, but we must use this experience for growth in taking the next step as a team. I must commend our ladies on this season. We faced challenges on many levels and they gave us everything they had every single day. Every step of the way they fought for Navy women's tennis."
 
The Midshipmen got off to a strong start in the race for the doubles point as Miranda Deng (Sr., North Potomac, Md.) and Jillian Taggart (So., Fair Oaks, Calif.) got the team started with a 6-3 win over Lily Burchell and Emily Kim at No. 1. Then at No. 3 doubles, Samantha Johns (Fr., Simpsonville, S.C.) and Kacey Moore (Jr., Wellington, Fla.) won a 6-4 contest against Kaitlin Tan and Shelly Yaloz. With the doubles point was secured, Boston held a 5-4 advantage at No. 2.
 
To start singles, the Terriers evened the score right out of the gate with Tan winning a 6-1, 6-3 contest over Moore at No. 2. The back-and-forth battle continued at Johns regained the lead for the Midshipmen after she swept Katya Martens at No. 6 singles, 6-3, 6-0.
 
Boston won the next two points to take its first lead of the match after Erica Di Battista outlasted Meghana Komarraju (Jr., Vienna, Va.) at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-4, and Victoria Carlsten edged out Taggart at No. 1, 6-4, 7-5.
 
Navy tied the score at No. 4 singles where Deng won the opening set 7-5 and her opponent Kim was forced to retire in the second set.
 
With the match all square at three points each, the deciding match came at No. 5 singles. Katreina Corpuz (Jr., Ewa Beach, Hawaii) lost the opening set in a tiebreaker to Lily Burchell and then Burchell outlasted Corpuz in the second set to win, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, and clinch the 4-3 win for the Terriers in the Patriot League Championship.
 
"We had lost a total of five starters from last year's team and many were expected to step into new roles this year," Puryear continued. "People like Jillian Taggart, who did a great job holding down the number one spot, and Kacey Moore who did the same at two. Freshman Samantha Johns who only lost one singles match this year and both Meghana and Katreina, both who played significant roles in singles and doubles.
 
"Each member of this group of young ladies played a role in our success. To see how this team banded together against the challenges faced this year was impressive. The way they represent Navy women's tennis on the court, in the hall and in the classroom is always exemplary. We will miss our seniors, Tina, Miranda and Brooke. They have provided us with leadership and were shining examples of what playing for this team and the Academy means. We know they will be excellent leaders for their Sailors and Marines in the fleet," Puryear concluded.
 
"Tough 4-3 loss in the final to Boston University," assistant coach Alessandra Pedergnana said. "Not the ending we wanted but we sure are proud of this entire team. A year that has had everything, we are filled with gratitude to have had a season and leave it all out there. While it came down to the last match, the entire team put us in this position of having an opportunity.
 
"Thank you to our amazing family that includes players, coaches, officer representative (Maj. Brooke Campbell), faculty representative (Cmdr. Dave Durkin), compliance (Loretta Lamar), athletic trainer (Sean Nelson), sports information (David Gerhart), equipment manager (Brian Sellers), Brigade Sports Complex staff, managers, players' parents and alumni. It takes a village. We are eternally grateful for everyone and to our seniors, Tina, Miranda and Brooke. They led us during a pandemic and left their impression on all and this team specifically. The fleet is very lucky to have them there soon."
 
Navy ends its season as the runner-up in the Patriot League Tournament and finished the year with a record of 7-4 overall.