UAlbany Women's Tennis Defeats Binghamton, 4-3; Improve to 2-1 in AE Play

ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany women’s tennis team defeated America East rival, Binghamton University, 4-3, at Varsity Court on Friday, April 5. The win improved the Great Danes to 2-1 in conference play, surpassing last year’s AE victory total. No. 1 singles and doubles player, junior Rocio Lopez, missed the match due to illness. Freshmen Mireille Hermans and Cat Crummey, along with graduate student Irene Santos-Bravo, all stepped up to win in her absence.

In doubles play, the No. 1 and No. 2 teams took care of business to earn the first point for UAlbany. Santos-Bravo and Crummey defeated Binghamton (3-13, 0-2 AE) freshmen Alexis Tashiro and Shea Brodsky, 8-6. This left the game’s first point in the hands of top doubles duo, sophomore Kirsten Scott and Hermans. The two survived a scare as Binghamton won three straight games to nearly steal the match away. They pulled it out, winning 8-6 and clinching the first match point.

In singles play, Crummey took home a three-set win over Brodsky, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-2. This put UAlbany (6-10, 2-1 AE) two wins short of clinching the match.

The first of those wins came off the racket of Santos-Bravo. She defeated sophomore Katherine Medianik in two-sets at the No. 1 spot, 6-4, 7-6 (5). Hermans clinched the win for the Great Danes, her fourth singles victory of the season. The Netherlands native split the first two sets and trailed in the third, 3-2. She scrapped her way back, taking the next four games and winning, 7-6 (2), 1-6, 6-3.

"It's nice to get this big conference win. It took real determination on our part to pull out these victories today,” said head coach Gordon Graham. “This team showed a lot of heart today, especially with Rocio [Lopez] out of the line-up.”

UAlbany will continue their current home-stretch with a second straight America East battle against UMBC at Varsity Court on Sunday, April 7. Match is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

UALBANY 4, BINGHAMTON 3

Doubles:
1) Scott-Hermans (UA) def. Ambrozy-Medianik (B) 8-6**
2) Santos-Crummey (UA) def. Brodsky-Tashiro (B) 8-6
3) Edelblum-Kohtz (B) def. Kukkonen-Iannone (UA) 8-4

Order of finish: 3,2,1
**Clinched doubles point for UAlbany

Singles:
1) Irene Santos (UA) def. Katya Medianik (B) 6-4,7-6(5)
2) Alexis Tashiro (B) def. Kirsten Scott (UA) 6-4,7-5
3) Sara Kohtz (B) def Cheryl Kukkonen (UA) 6-0,6-3
4) Cat Crummey (UA) def. Shea Brodsky (B) 6-3,6-7(6),6-2
5) Mireille Hermans (UA) def. Agatha Ambrozy (B) 7-6(2),1-6,6-3$$
6) Missy Edelblum (B) def. Sarah Iannone (UA) 6-2,1-0(7)

Order of finish: 3,2,4,1,5,6
$$Clinched match for UAlbany