LAKELAND, Fla.—The third-seed Barry Buccaneers pulled a narrow 5-4 upset over second seed Rollins in the Sunshine State Conference Women’s Tennis Tournament at the Beerman Tennis Center in Lakeland, Fla., on Friday. The Bucs rallied from 4-1 down to win the final four singles to take the match.
Angie Werschel (ranked 35 in the singles by the ITA) knocked off Anastasiya Shevchenko 7-6 (5), 6-4 at number three singles to clinch the match for the Bucs (17-6).
The Tars (22-2) grabbed a 2-1 lead after doubles. At number one, Marnie Mahler and Roshni Luthra (ITA #12) pulled an 8-2 upset of #8 Ildiko Csordas and Caroline Stevens to avenge an 8-3 loss from the regular season.
Sonia Bernal and Margaret Junker defeated Werschel and Helen Wisniewski 8-4 at number two, but Olivia Lilien and Berit Peterson rallied for the Bucs at number three to beat Silvia Frandji and Anastasiya Shevchenko 8-4 to salvage one point for Barry.
In singles, Luthra quickly made it 3-1 for the Tars with a 6-1, 6-1 straight set win over Wisniewski at number four, and Junker downed Peterson 6-3, 6-2 at number five.
But Lilien, who had lost to Frandji during the regular season in three sets, dominated the Tar 6-4, 6-1 at number six. Csordas (ITA #14) also avenged a regular season loss to Mahler (#13) with a 6-4, 6-4 win at number one.
With the Tars leading 4-3, Stevens (#26) rallied from a set down to defeat Bernal 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 to knot the match at 4-4, setting up Werschel to clinch the win.
The Bucs will now face the Lynn/Nova Southeastern winner in the championship match on Saturday at 11:30 am.
Tennis Match Results
Barry vs Rollins
04/18/2008 at Lakeland, Fla.
(Beerman Tennis Center)
#10 Barry 5, #7 Rollins 4
Singles competition
1. #14 Ildiko Csordas (BUW) def. #13 Marnie Mahler (RCW) 6-4, 6-4
2. #26 Caroline Stevens (BUW) def. Sonia Bernal (RCW) 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
3. #35 Angie Werschel (BUW) def. Anastasiya Shevchenko (RCW) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
4. Roshni Luthra (RCW) def. Helen Wisniewski (BUW) 6-1, 6-1
5. Margaret Junker (RCW) def. Berit Peterson (BUW) 6-3, 6-2
6. Olivia Lilien (BUW) def. Silvia Frandji (RCW) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #12 Marnie Mahler/Roshni Luthra (RCW) def. #8 Ildiko Csordas/Caroline Stevens (BUW) 8-2
2. Sonia Bernal/Margaret Junker (RCW) def. Helen Wisniewski/Angie Werschel (BUW) 8-4
3. Olivia Lilien/Berit Peterson (BUW) def. Silvia Frandji/AnastasiyaShevchenko (RCW) 8-4
Match Notes:
Barry 17-6; National ranking #10
Rollins 20-2; National ranking #7
Sunshine State Conference Tennis Championships - Match 8