University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Villanova
Huskies Clipped by Villanova, 4-3
4/10/2021 4:41:00 PM | Women's Tennis
STORRS, Conn. - The UConn women's tennis team returned to BIG EAST action on Saturday but saw their three match winning streak snapped in a 4-3 heartbreaker loss to the Villanova Wildcats in Storrs on the UConn Tennis Courts.
The Huskies move to 7-4 on the season and are 1-1 against BIG EAST competition.
"We lost a heartbreaker out there today," stated Director of Tennis. "The team battled throughout, but Nova just stepped up and was a little tougher than us at crunch time. We started out with another strong doubles performance, but it wasn't easy. It came down to a nail biter at #1 doubles, and we played a solid tie-breaker to earn the victory."
The Huskies extended their streak to 10-straight matches opening up by winning the doubles point. At No. 3 sophomore Caroline Cook (Naples, Fla.) and freshman Aleksandra Karamyshev (Ashton, Md.) won their ninth-straight match by beating Sabina Grigorian and Rose Kenny, 6-0. After Villanova evened it up at No. 2, the top team of junior Julieanne Bou (Bayamon, Puerto Rico) and freshman Leonie Hoppe (Munich, Germany) clinched the point by winning 7-6 (3), staying a perfect 10-0 on the season playing together.
"In singles we had some very close matches, and it came down to Leonie at #2," said Marshall. "She fought hard but lost in the third set 7-5." UConn went up 2-0 as Karamyshev opened with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Kenny at No. 6, her fourth-straight singles win. Sophomore Doga Selen Takunyaci (Istanbul, Turkey) gave the Huskies a 3-1 lead in the match with a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 5 over Bella Steffen and improved to 7-3 on the year in singles.
After Villanova grabbed wins at No. 3 and No. 4, the match would come down to the No. 2 match-up with Hoppe and Claudia Athans. After losing the first set 6-1, Hoppe answered by taking the second 6-4. In the third, Athans would just edge her out 7-5 to give the WIldcats the win.
"The team was working hard to try and earn a win on Senior Day for Elizabeth Kozyi," stated Marshall. "She is our lone senior, and we still got the opportunity to honor her after the match which was very nice. I look forward to next week when we can get back to our winning ways against Providence.
Players Mentioned
