BOSTON, Mass. – The Navy women's tennis team (20-6, 4-1 PL) was unable to keep its perfect Patriot League record intact on Saturday evening, falling to Boston University (11-7, 3-0 PL) by a 4-2 score at the Winchester Tennis Club in Winchester, Mass.
Navy started the match strong, as the Midshipmen took home the doubles point and took an early edge. After the No. 3 pairing of juniors
Kate Lee and
Parvathi Shanker fell to Victoria Carlsten and Nina Gulbransen, 6-0, the Mids got a win at the No. 2 spot with junior
Emily Tannenbaum being reunited with freshman
Olivia Fermo, knocking off Kaitlin Tan and Emily Zhao in a 6-1 match. The Mids then clinched the doubles point when sophomore
Sia Chaudry and senior
Samantha Johns pulled away for a 6-4 victory on the top court against Blanka Demicheli and Uma Bakaiyte.
Singles play opened with Zhao defeating Lee on the No. 4 court in a 6-1, 6-2 final, but rookie
Makaila Cheng answered for Navy with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Rhea Rai in the No. 5 position. Boston clawed back as singles continued, with Tan besting Chaudry, 6-2, 6-4, on the third court and Ellie Gyuro beating Shanker by a 6-4, 6-2 score in the No. 6 spot.
Bakaiyte then finished off the Terriers' rally when she posted a 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) win against John in the No. 2 match, leaving Tannenbaum's battle with Carlsten at No. 1 abandoned (6-1, 2-6, 4-4).
Coach Keith Puryear Comments
"I felt we played a gritty match today against Boston. To Boston's credit, they fought us tooth and nail as it was a high-quality match by both teams. We are proud of the fight and resolve shown by each of the ladies, win or lose. In a competition as close as this one was, it will often come down to a few critical moments and/or points in the match and the job you do in capitalizing on the opportunities you've created. If handled correctly, this match can serve as a great learning experience for us as a team."
Match Notes
• Navy is now 0-12 against Boston all-time.
• Sitting third in program history with 150 career combined wins, Tannenbaum needs one more to catch Erin Snook for second.
• Ranking fourth in program history with 66 career doubles wins, Tannenbaum needs two more doubles victories to catch Claudia Mackenzie for third in the record books.
Up Next
Navy will host Morgan State in its regular-season finale on April 10 at 3 p.m.
