MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The 14th-ranked Barry women’s tennis team slipped by the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 5-4 at the Buccaneer Tennis Center on Monday afternoon.
In a marathon match that lasted over three hours, Berit Peterson outlasted Caitlin Baker at number five singles for the deciding point. Peterson took the first set in a tiebreaker 7-6 (3), but lost the second set 4-6. Peterson then rallied from 5-4 down in the third set for a 7-5 win that gave the match to the Bucs (11-3).
The match started propitiously for the Buccaneers as they took two of three doubles. Ildiko Csordas and Caroline Stevens defeated Polina Zaretser and Amy Zhang 8-6 at the top flight. Peterson and Olivia Lilien made short work of Baker and Katherine Arlak 8-2 at number three.
At the second doubles, Katrina Elder-Bush and Christine Tran took Barry’s Helen Wisniewski and Angie Werschel to a tie-breaker, with the Knights (7-5) winning 9-8 (7-3).
Werschel quickly made it 3-1 in favor of the Bucs when Zhang was forced to retire after losing the first set 6-1. Lilien put the Bucs on the brink of a win with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Tran at number six.
But the Knights’ Arlak defeated Wisniewski 6-1, 6-2 at number four and Elder-Bush took care of Csordas in straight sets 7-6 (6), 6-2.
Zaretser knotted the match at 4-4 by rallying from a first set loss to Stevens to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 at number two.
The Bucs will take on the Columbia Lions out of the Ivy League on Wednesday, Mar. 19 at 3:00 pm at the Buccaneer Tennis Center.
Tennis Match Results
Rutgers vs Barry
3/17/2008 at Miami Shores, Fla.
(Buccaneer Tennis Center)
#14 Barry 5, Rutgers 4
Singles competition
1. Katrina Elder-Bush (RUW) def. Ildiko Csordas (BUW) 7-6 (8-6), 6-2
2. Polina Zaretser (RUW) def. Caroline Stevens (BUW) 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
3. Angie Werschel (BUW) def. Amy Zhang (RUW) 6-1, retired
4. Katherine Arlak (RUW) def. Helen Wisniewski (BUW) 6-1, 6-2
5. Berit Peterson (BUW) def. Caitlin Baker (RUW) 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 7-5
6. Olivia Lilien (BUW) def. Christine Tran (RUW) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Ildiko Csordas/Caroline Stevens (BUW) def. Polina Zaretser/Amy Zhang (RUW) 8-6
2. Katrina Elder-Bush/Christine Tran (RUW) def. Angie Werschel/Helen Wisniewski (BUW) 9-8 (7-3)
3. Berit Peterson/Olivia Lilien (BUW) def. Katherine Arlak/Caitlin Baker (RUW) 8-2
Match Notes:
Rutgers 7-5
Barry 11-3; National ranking #14