CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College women's tennis team (6-8, 1-0 Big South) rallied from a 3-1 deficit on Thursday afternoon (March 19), taking down NJIT 4-3 on the Templeton Center Tennis Courts.
Sofia Rodrigo Hidalgo clinched the comeback for the Blue Hose on court five, improving Presbyterian to 2-0 in conference play on the season.
NJIT grabbed the doubles point to begin the match, picking up wins on doubles courts one and three.
The Highlanders maintained the momentum early in singles, taking five out of six first sets against the Blue Hose. NJIT extended its lead to 2-0 with a straight-set win on the top court.
Grace Katzman followed to get Presbyterian on the board, cruising to a 6-2, 6-1 victory on court four. The Highlanders responded with a straight-set win on court six to go ahead 3-1 over PC.
The Blue Hose dropped the first set on courts two, three, and five but fought back in every match. Luciana Parrilli rallied from losing her first set 6-0 on court three, taking her second set 6-3 to stay alive. In the decider, she came through for PC, winning 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 to cut the deficit.
Roxy Valdes lost her opening set as well to Paula Alvarez on court two but battled hard to claim her second set 6-4, forcing a third set. In a narrow third set, Valdes got the best of Alvarez, fighting her way to a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory to tie the match at three apiece.
The match came down to court five. Rodrigo Hidalgo claimed her second set in a tiebreak 7-6 (3) to keep PC in the match against Diana Fernandes. In the deciding set, she pulled away from Fernandes, completing the Presbyterian comeback with a 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2 win to secure a 4-3 victory over the Highlanders.
TEAM NOTES
- The Blue Hose claimed just the second ever meeting against NJIT.
- Luciana Parrilli picked up her first singles win on court three this season.
- Roxy Valdes recorded her third singles win of the year.
- Sofia Rodrigo Hidalgo improves to 3-2 on court five.
Presbyterian 4, NJIT 3
Singles competition
1. Laura Wipfli (NJIT) def. Ladina Bruhin (PC) 6-2, 6-2
2. Roxana Valdes (PC) def. Paula Alvarez (NJIT) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
3. Luciana Parrilli (PC) def. Asima Sazan (NJIT) 0-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Grace Katzman (PC) def. Petra Koszo (NJIT) 6-2, 6-1
5. Sofia Rodrigo Hidalgo (PC) def. Diana Fernandes (NJIT) 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
6. Luisa Hepcal Barcan (NJIT) def. Mary Ellen Longmire (PC) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Irene Cocero/Laura Wipfli (NJIT) def. Luciana Parrilli/Sofia Rodrigo Hidalgo (PC) 6-0
2. Grace Katzman/Mary Ellen Longmire (PC) vs. Feyza Aydin/Paula Alvarez (NJIT) 3-4, unfinished
3. Luisa Hepcal Barcan/Petra Koszo (NJIT) def. Ladina Bruhin/Roxana Valdes (PC) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,4,6,3,2,5)
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose will face NC Central on the road on Saturday afternoon (March 21) at 1:00 p.m.
