Pitt Bounces Back to Dominate Harvard in Singles

Saturday, November 5

Cambridge, Mass.

All Day

Pitt

Harvard Invitational

Pitt Bounces Back to Dominate Harvard in Singles

11/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

Nov. 5, 2016

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - In its second day of action at the Harvard Invitational, the Pitt tennis team collected five singles wins over the host team Harvard after suffering three straight doubles losses.

"I am so proud of this group and how difficult it is what they just did," said head coach Alex Santos. "We showed tremendous toughness and competitiveness today. We were able to win five out of six singles and did so after doubles not going the way we wanted. I could say a lot of amazing things about every single girl on this team, but their complete effort as a unit is the highlight of the day and far more important."

The Panthers struggled early on in doubles, dropping all three matches to the Crimson. However, Pitt bounced back in singles, taking five of six from the host team.

Leading off was redshirt senior Amber Washington who outlasted Erica Oosterhout 7-5 in the first set, 7-5, and locked in the win with a 6-4 final in the second.

Sophomore Gabriela Rezende showed her growth and endurance this afternoon, as she claimed the first set 6-3, fell 3-6 in the second but came back and dominated the third set, 6-1.

Senior Lolade Ogungbesan also did not back down in her match against Natasha Gonzalez. Ogungbesan fell in the first set 6-3, but came back to win the second and third, 6-2, 7-6(3).

Junior Callie Frey also started her match with a first set loss, this one 6-4 to Nika Besker, and battled her way back in the second and third, 6-3, 7-6(2).

Sophomore Clara Lucas went out dominating her Harvard opponent, Sabrina Xiong, as she won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1.

Senior Audrey Ann Blakely was the lone Panther to fall in singles as she dropped a 6-3, 6-4 decision to Lexi Mulunovich.

The Panthers look to carry their momentum into the final day of the Harvard Invitational Sunday, Nov. 6, as they take on ACC foe Syracuse at 10 a.m.

Doubles

Lee/Oosterhout (HAR) def. Blakely/Ogungbesan (UP), 6-3

Gonzalez/Lu (HAR) def. Wasington/Frey (UP), 6-4

Jasper/Milunovich (HAR) def. Rezende/Lucas (UP), 6-1

Singles

Washington (UP) def. Oosterhout (HAR), 7-5, 6-4

Milunovich (HAR) def. Blakely (UP), 6-3, 6-4

Rezende (UP) def. Lu (HAR), 6-4, 3-6, 6-1

Ogungbesan (UP) def. Gonzalez (HAR), 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(3)

Frey (UP) def. Besker (HAR), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(2)

Lucas (UP) def. Xiong (HAR), 6-3, 6-1