UAlbany Women's Tennis Defeats UMBC For Second Straight America East Win

ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany women’s tennis team defeated UMBC, 4-1, at Varsity Court on Sunday, April 7. UAlbany improved to 3-1 in America East conference play -- also defeating Binghamton University on Saturday. Prior to this season, the Great Danes had never beaten UMBC or Binghamton in the Division I era.

UAlbany opened up doubles play with a win at the No. 1 spot. The duo of junior Rocio Lopez and sophomore Kirsten Scott improved to 9-2 together this dual season. They defeated senior Heidi Danielsson and freshman Julia Sauer of the Retrievers, 8-4. UMBC (4-13, 0-2 AE) triumphed at the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles' spots to earn the matches first point.

The Great Danes rebounded in singles play to take four straight matches. They triumphed at the No. 1, 2,3 and 5 spots to clinch the victory. Due to high winds and rain the match was called after UAlbany (7-10, 3-1 AE) clinched the win.

All four Great Dane victories came in two sets. Lopez, coming off illness, rebounded with her 12^th singles victories of the season. She defeated sophomore Isabel Aldunate in a 6-0, 6-0 shutout. Graduate student Irene Santos-Bravo won her second straight match at the No. 1 singles' spot. She took down Danielsson, 6-1, 6-3.

Still needing two victories, Scott and freshman Cat Crummey each pulled out wins. First, Scott won at the No. 3 spot. She defeated junior Josefin Stange-Jonsson, 6-2, 7-5. The match was clinched by Crummey. She won 6-2, 6-4 over UMBC freshman Madlena Kurasz. The Shaker native recorded her 10th win in singles play of the dual season.

Elsewhere, sophomore Cheryl Kukkonen led Sauer, 7-5, 4-3 before the match was called. Freshman Mireille Hermans was trailing freshman Shannon Cleary, losing the first set, 6-4.

"This was an impressive total team performance,” said head coach Gordon Graham. “The weather conditions put a premium on mental tenacity and competitiveness, and our team came through huge in every position.”

UAlbany will wrap up conference play at Stony Brook University on Friday, April 12. The Seawolves eliminated the Great Danes in the America East Tournament last season, winning 4-1.



UALBANY 4, UMBC 1

Doubles:

1. Lopez-Scott (UA) def. Danielsson-Sauer (UMBC) 8-4

2. Stange Jonsson-Cleary (UMBC) def. Santos-Crummey (UA) 8-5*

3. Kurasz-Aldunate (UMBC) def. Hermans-Iannone (UA) 8-3

Order of finish: 3,2,1

*=clinched doubles point for UMBC.



Singles:

1. Irene Santos (UA) def. Heidi Danielsson (UMBC) 6-1,6-3

2. Rocio Lopez (UA) def. Isabel Aldunate (UMBC) 6-0,6-0

3. Kirsten Scott (UA) def. Josefin Stange Jonsson (UMBC) 6-2,7-5

4. Cheryl Kukkonen (UA) led Julia Sauer (UMBC) 7-5,4-3, DNF

5. Cat Crummey (UA) def. Madlena Kurasz (UMBC) 6-2,6-4$$

6. Shannon Cleary (UMBC) led Mireille Hermans (UA) 6-4, DNF

Order of finish: 2,1,3,5 DNF: 4,6

$$=clinched match for UALBANY