Panthers Collect Two Wins on Opening Day

Saturday, January 20

Wexford, Pa.

1 p.m.

Pitt

Youngstown State

Panthers Collect Two Wins on Opening Day

1/20/2018 11:18:00 PM | Women's Tennis

YSU Results Akron Results

Pitt Downs Youngstown State and Akron

YSU Results | Akron Results

WEXFORD, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh tennis team opened the 2018 season on a positive note, downing Youngstown State and Akron Saturday at Oxford Athletic Club.

The Panthers opened the day with the Penguins, earning a 6-1 victory before winning by the same score against Akron.

"I'm very happy," said head coach Alex Santos. "It was important to open the season with these two wins. The energy was great and it's always important to win the doubles point, which we won in both duals, and we carried that momentum to singles. These wins will give us a lot of confidence moving forward."

Pitt recorded 14 total wins between both duals while newcomers Claudia Bartolome, Camila Moreno and Luisa Varon accounted for five singles wins.

Bartolome and Moreno had a notable day, as the freshmen both won their singles match against the Penguins and Zips. Bartolome's singles win versus Akron locked up the dual for Pitt, 4-0. In doubles, Moreno, paired with senior Callie Frey, clinched the doubles point for the Panthers on two occasions.

The Panthers opened the day by clinching the doubles point thanks to back-to-back Pitt wins. The Panthers then took a 2-0 lead after junior Natsumi Okamoto won in straight sets. Youngstown State earned its lone win of the dual after junior Gabriela Rezende dropped a 6-2, 6-3 decision at No. 1 singles. However, Pitt won the following four singles matches to earn the team victory.

The Panthers then faced Akron and quickly took the lead after clinching the doubles point. Pitt took the first four singles matches to lock up the team win. Rezende wrapped things up for the Panthers as she earned her first win at No. 1 singles, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2.

Pitt resumes action Friday, Feb. 2 when it hosts Bowling Green at 1 p.m. at Oxford Athletic Club.

Pitt 6, Youngstown State 1
Doubles
1. Sofia Macias/Imaan Hassim (YSU) def. Gabriela Rezende/Jovana Knezevic (UP) 6-4
2. Luisa Varon/Claudia Bartolome (UP) def. Noelly Longi Nsimba/Anastasiia Khokhlova (YSU) 7-5
3. Callie Frey/Camila Moreno (UP) def. Ana Stroe/Lucia Zagar (YSU) 6-4

Singles
1. Noelly Longi Nsimba (YSU) def. Gabriela Rezende (UP) 6-2, 6-3
2. Luisa Varon (UP) def. Sofia Macias (YSU) 6-3, 6-4
3. Camila Moreno (UP) def. Imaan Hassim (YSU) 7-6 (6-4), 3-6, 10-7
4. Claudia Bartolome (UP) def. Anastasiia Khokhlova (YSU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Callie Frey (UP) def. Cassandra Moraleja (YSU) 6-0, 6-2
6. Natsumi Okamoto (UP) def. Lucia Zagar (YSU) 6-0, 6-1

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,1,4,5,2,3)

Pitt 6, Akron 1
Doubles
1. Gabriela Rezende/Jovana Knezevic (UP) def. Carli Knezevich/Rita Pedroso (AKRON) 6-3
2. Luisa Echeverry/Miruna Vasilescu (AKRON) def. Luisa Varon/Claudia Bartolome (UP) 5-4
3. Callie Frey/Camila Moreno (UP) def. Waverly Wituski/Madison Wolfe (AKRON) 6-4

Singles
1. Gabriela Rezende (UP) def. Rita Pedroso (AKRON) 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
2. Carli Knezevich (AKRON) def. Luisa Varon (UP) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5
3. Claudia Bartolome (UP) def. Luisa Echeverry (AKRON) 6-1, 6-4
4. Camila Moreno (UP) def. Madison Wolfe (AKRON) 6-2, 6-3
5. Callie Frey (UP) def. Carla Flores (AKRON) 6-2, 6-0
6. Natsumi Okamoto (UP) def. Waverly Wituski (AKRON) 7-5, 6-4

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (5,4,3,6,2,1)

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