Pitt
Syracuse
Women's Tennis Honored Its Seniors On Friday
4/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 11, 2011
PITTSBURGH—The University of Pittsburgh women’s tennis team fell 7-0 to Syracuse on Friday afternoon. The Panthers slipped to 8-10 on the year and 2-6 in the Big East, while the Orange improved to 15-6 overall and 7-1 in the league.
Prior to the match, seniors Elizabeth Adams, Adela Aprodu and Sarah Dieffenbach were honored in their final collegiate match at the Alpha Tennis and Fitness Club.
Adams became the 13th women’s tennis player to join the 100-Victory Club. She was also just the third to do so as a junior and currently ranks second all-time in career wins. Adams was named an All-Big East selection as a sophomore and holds the school record for single-season doubles wins. She is a Big East Academic All-Star.
A Big East Academic All-Star, Aprodu transferred to Pitt as a sophomore and earned 16 wins in singles action her first year. That same year she recorded a victory in No. 5 singles against Cincinnati on the first day of the Big East Tournament. She also competed in No. 2 doubles during her sophomore and junior seasons.
Dieffenbach finished her career at Pitt after transferring from George Mason. She earned her first victory as a Panther in a straight-set victory over Howard last season. Additionally, Dieffenbach won her first doubles match over Colgate in 2010.
The Panthers were competitive through the doubles matches and won several games, but were outlasted by Syracuse in tiebreakers in both No. 2 and No. 3 doubles.
First, junior Minh Evans and freshman Taylor Washington went point-for-point with the Orange in the No. 3 slot. The Panthers made several aggressive plays at the net, but the Orange held on for a 9-7 victory in the contest.
Then in No. 2 doubles, the freshmen duo of Jocelyn Lu and Kimmy Borza lost their first tiebreaker of the season. With the match tied at eight games apiece, the Panthers held a chance to take the lead in the breaker. However, Syracuse’s twos prevailed with a 7-5 tally.
In singles action, Lu earned a first set victory in the No. 3 spot. She battled back and forth with her opponent and claimed a 6-4 win to open the match. However, Syracuse’s Maddie Kolbelt answered with a 6-4 decision in set two. Then in a see-saw volley, Lu saw her three-match win streak come to an end in a 14-12 decision in the super tiebreaker.
Up next, the Panthers travel for a 2 p.m. match against Georgetown on Wednesday, April 13.
Doubles
1. Emily Harman/Maddie Kobelt (SU) def. Elizabeth Adams/Gabrielle Catanzariti (Pitt), 8-2
2. Simone Kalhorn/Aleah Marrow (SU) def. Jocelyn Lu/Kimmy Borza (Pitt), 9-8 (7-5)
3. Alessondra Parra/Christina Tan (SU) def. Minh Evans / Taylor Washington (Pitt), 9-7
Singles
1. Emily Harman (SU) def. Elizabeth Adams (Pitt), 6-3, ret
2. Alessondra Parra (SU) def. Gabi Catanzariti (Pitt), 6-2, 6-2
3. Maddie Kolbelt (SU) def. Jocelyn Lu (Pitt), 4-6, 6-4 (14-12)
4. Simone Kalhorn (SU) def. Kimmy Borza (Pitt), 6-2, 6-1
5. Christina Tan (SU) def. Karma Parbhu (Pitt), 6-1, 6-0
6. Aleah Marrow (SU) def. Brittney Russell (Pitt), 6-1, 6-2
Players Mentioned
