WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Monmouth University's (1-5) women's tennis team dropped a 4-3 decision to instate rival Princeton in a match that ran until 7 p.m. at night on Tuesday.

The deciding point came down to the fifth singles competition with the teams tied at 3-3.  MU senior Katie Tierney (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston) took the first set 6-2 over Tiger Hilary Bernstein but the Princeton sophomore took the second set 6-4.  With the clock almost showing 7 p.m. and darkness setting in there was not enough time to play a full third set so the coaches agreed to play a 10 point tiebreaker.  Bernstein defeated Tierney 10-1 to take the win for Princeton, sending Monmouth with its fifth loss of the fall.

Monmouth took the doubles point with the duo of Dana Ferrari (Saddlebrook, N.J./Immaculate Heart) and Jessica Slinger (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional) defeating the Princeton team of Genay Kirkpatrick and Bernstein at the third doubles flight.  Tierney and senior Reciel Arribe (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) won the team point for the Hawks with an exciting showdown against Carla Chow and Alex Szczuka.  The Hawks won that second doubles pairing by a 9-7 margin.

Princeton took three of the singles matches before the Bernstein-Tierney showdown.  Senior Nicole Lippens had to retire due to injury at the top singles spot, handing a point to the Tigers.  Freshman Brooke Verdiglione (Englishtown, N.J./St. John Vianney) continued her solid rookie campaign winning the second singles spot over Alex Epps, 6-4, 6-2.  Sophomore Shelby Goldman (West Hempstead, N.Y./West Hempstead) also took care of business in singles play, downing Kirkpatrick by a score of 6-4, 6-4 at the No. 6 slot.

MU is back in action tomorrow, Oct. 13 at home against Drexel.

Princeton 4, Monmouth 3
Match Results
Singles
1S:  Alexa Krakaris (P) d. Lippens                      5-2, retire

2S:  Brooke Verdiglione d. Alex Epps                  6-4,6-2

3S:  Alex Szczuka (P) d. Dana Ferrari                 6-0,6-4

4S:  Carla Chow (P) d. Britney Dupuis                 6-0,-1

5S:  Hilary Bernstein (P) d. Katie Tierney             2-6,6-4,10-1

6S:  Shelby Goldman d. Genay Kirkpatrick           6-4,6-4

 Doubles

1D:  Krakaris/Epps(P)   d. Lippens/Verdiglione      3-8

2D:  Tierney/Arribe   d.  Szczuka/Chow               9-7   

3D:  Ferrari/Slinger   d.  Bernstein/Kirkpatrick      8-1