VILLANOVA, PA – Villanova swept the doubles point and won the first three singles flights to finish to take a 4-0 win over the Rider University women's tennis team Tuesday afternoon. With the win, the Broncs fall to 4-13, while the Wildcats improve to 6-12.
All three doubles flights were competitive, with
Leila Koster (Duluth, GA/Rivers Academy) and
Samantha Killin (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) coming closest to a win at No. 2, but falling to Emma Brogan and Bella Steffen, 7-5.
Agnese Ceccarelli (Arezzo, Italy/Liceo Classico Francesco Petrarca) and
Daniela Naves (Alvarado, Mexico/Club Med Academies) fell to Emi Callahan and Maggie Gehrig, 6-4, at No. 1, while
Avery Oppenheim (Marietta, GA/Walton/Georgia Connections) and
Raquel Bolin (Plantation, FL/Xceed Preparatory Academy) fell to Valieriia Kornieva and Amanda Rivera-Gonzalez, 6-3.
Gehrig went on to defeat Naves at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-1, while Kornieva took a 6-1, 6-1, win at No. 4 over Oppenheim. Killin fell to Steffen, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 5 and the match was halted with Villanova securing the 4-0 win.
"Better day today," said Rider Head Coach
Tom Battaglia. "Built a few leads in doubles but didn't capitalize when we needed to. Good ball striking in singles. Played a very talented team today. Good to see this level before we get to the weekend."
The Broncs return to action Friday, when they play host to Siena. First serve is scheduled for 12:45 p.m.
