WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Monmouth University women's tennis team fell to visiting Saint Francis (Pa.), 7-0, and Siena, 6-1, last weekend in matches held at the MU Tennis Courts. With the pair of defeats, the Hawks fall to 4-10 on the year and 1-4 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play.
On Saturday against the Red Flash (9-4), the Blue and White nearly scored the doubles point, getting valiant comebacks by both the No. 1 and No. 2 squads. After SFU locked up the No. 3 match, the duo of Ashley Sandler (Jericho, N.Y./Syosset) and Chioma Gabriel (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) pulled within two points, but were held off by Danielle Gryckiewicz and Alex Sachs, 8-5, to clinch the point. The No. 1 tandem of Brooke Verdiglione (Englishtown, N.J./St. John Vianney) and Farrah Smoke (Spring Lake Heights, N.J./Manasquan [Brookdale C.C.]) rallied to force a tiebreaker, but ultimately fell 8-7 (3).
In singles play, Sandler won a total of five matches in her 6-3, 6-2 setback at No. 2, while Gabriel was edged by Brittini Jentz at No. 5, 6-3, 6-1.
The following day in MAAC play against the Saints (8-11, 4-2 MAAC), Sandler and Gabriel notched an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles, but wins at No. 1 and No. 3 sealed the point for Siena. Gabriel registered the lone point for the Blue and White, scoring a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 win over Cassandra Braz. Robyn Belen (Marlboro, N.J./Marlboro) turned in a strong performance at No. 6. After falling in the opening set, 6-2, the rookie forced a decisive third set with her 6-4 win in the second stanza, but fell 10-7 in the decisive third set.
The Hawks continue MAAC play this Tuesday, April 8th, when Fairfield travels to West Long Branch for a 3 p.m. tilt at the MU Tennis Courts.
Tennis Match Results
Saint Francis (Pa.) vs Monmouth
Apr 05, 2014 at West Long Branch, N.J.
Saint Francis (Pa.) 7, Monmouth 0
Singles competition
1. Panizza, Rafaela (SFU) def. Verdiglione, Brooke (MU-W) 6-2, 6-1
2. Patel, Shivani (SFU) def. Sandler, Ashley (MU-W) 6-3, 6-2
3. Sachs, Alex (SFU) def. Smoke, Farrah (MU-W) 6-1, 6-1
4. Jasso, Lucy (SFU) def. Kauffman, Kendal (MU-W) 6-0, 6-1
5. Jentz, Brittini (SFU) def. Gabriel, Chioma (MU-W) 6-3, 6-1
6. Diaz, Camila (SFU) def. Belen, Robyn (MU-W) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Panizza, Rafaela/Zoubareva, Taya (SFU) def. Verdiglione, Brooke/Smoke, Farrah (MU-W) 8-7 (7-3)
2. Gryckiewicz,Danielle/Sachs, Alex (SFU) def. Sandler, Ashley/Gabriel, Chioma (MU-W) 8-5
3. Jentz, Brittini/Jasso, Lucy (SFU) def. Ellis, Emily/Kauffman, Kendal (MU-W) 8-0
Match Notes:
Saint Franics (Pa.) 9-4
Monmouth 4-9
Tennis Match Results
Siena vs Monmouth
Apr 06, 2014 at West Long Branch, N.J.
Siena 6, Monmouth 1
Singles competition
1. Garrity, Ali (SIENA) def. Verdiglione, Brooke (MU-W) 6-4, 6-0
2. Holloway, Carly (SIENA) def. Sandler, Ashley (MU-W) 6-3, 6-2
3. Fukamachi, Mitsuki (SIENA) def. Smoke, Farrah (MU-W) 6-0, 6-0
4. Macaluso, Jessica (SIENA) def. Kauffman, Kendal (MU-W) 6-3, 6-4
5. Gabriel, Chioma (MU-W) def. Braz, Cassandra (SIENA) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
6. Reagan, Erika (SIENA) def. Belen, Robyn (MU-W) 6-2, 4-6, 10-7
Doubles competition
1. Garrity, Ali/Fukamachi, Mitsuki (SIENA) def. Verdiglione, Brooke/Smoke, Farrah (MU-W) 8-3
2. Sandler, Ashley/Gabriel, Chioma (MU-W) def. Macaluso, Jessica/Braz, Cassandra (SIENA) 8-4
3. Holloway, Carly/Reagan, Erika (SIENA) def. Kauffman, Kendal/Turner, Sarah (MU-W) 8-4
Match Notes:
Siena 8-11 (4-2 MAAC)
Monmouth 4-10 (1-4 MAAC)
Doubles Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1, 4, 5, 6
