Season's Biggest Rivalry Held on Senior Day
3/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 22, 2010
PITTSBURGH — The University of Pittsburgh women’s tennis team will meet its biggest rival of the season tomorrow- the Duquesne Dukes. The match-of-the-year will also play host to Pitt’s senior recognition.
“This is the 34th home meeting in the history of Pitt versus Duquesne women’s tennis,” said head coach George Dieffenbach. “Almost all the matches have been very close and very competitive and very exciting and I would expect that from this match tomorrow.”
The Panthers (5-2, 1-2 Big East) lead the all-time series against the Dukes (5-6) by a 23-10 margin, but in the last five years have only won two of the five meetings. The two teams practice side-by-side at The Club in Monroeville, adding to the importance of the match since the winning team gets the added gift of bragging rights for the year.
“I’m excited that my senior match is against such a big home- town rival,” said senior Shannon Benic. “Being from Pittsburgh it means a lot more for me to win this match. I want to go out on top beating Duquesne.”
Both teams enter the match with a two-game winning streak. Pitt’s streak includes wins over Norfolk State and Youngstown State while Duquesne has knocked off the University of Dayton and Coastal Carolina.
“You never know who’s going to win the match,” said senior Marie Eanes-Fennelly. “It’s always close and the outcome is the one thing every player remembers when the season is over.”
In the end, one team will extend their winning streak to three games and earn bragging rights until the two teams meet again next year.
“I’m looking forward to the final Duquesne match of my career,” said senior Sabrina Visram. “It’s always a challenge and I hope tomorrow is no different.”
As Pitt’s final home match, the Panther’s will honor their three seniors in a short ceremony prior to the start of the match. Also an honoree at the match-up is the Nike Foundation, a foundation created in 2004 that’s proceeds are used to promote the lives and welfare of young women in developing nations throughout the world.
The Pitt-Duquesne match has been used as a way to collect donations for the Foundation for four years. Every year the two teams have gradually increased the donations from the year before, and this year the teams want to top last year’s total.
“We welcome as many spectators as possible to come out tomorrow to watch some outstanding collegiate tennis,” said Dieffenbach.
The Panthers will challenge the Dukes tomorrow at 12:30 at The Club in Monroeville, Pa. The senior recognition ceremony will take place before doubles play begins.