Thursday, February 7
Wexford, Pa.
8:30 p.m.
Pitt
4
vs
3
Akron
Varon Lifts Panthers to Victory Over Akron, 4-3
2/8/2019 1:55:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Senior Luisa Varon Seals Deal in Singles
WEXFORD, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh tennis team defeated Akron Thursday night, 4-3, thanks to a clutch win by senior Luisa Varon at No. 2 singles.
Pitt clinched the doubles point and secured three singles wins en route to the non-conference victory. The Panthers move to 3-3 overall after handing the Zips their first loss of the season (7-1).
"I'm really proud of this team for having the passion, resiliency, and toughness to come back from a 3-1 deficit against a team that was undefeated until today," said head coach Alex Santos. "I think we played our best doubles so far today. To see Mariona [Perez Noguera] and Luisa leave their hearts on the courts will inspire us to continue the process. I'm just extremely happy that the girls worked to experience a unique feeling."
The Panthers clinched the doubles point thanks to back-to-back wins on courts three and one. Senior Clara Lucas and sophomore Camila Moreno cruised to a 6-2 victory at the No. 3 position before senior Gabriela Rezende and sophomore Claudia Bartolome turned in a 6-3 win at No. 1.
The Zips tied things up 1-1 after No. 86 Bartolome dropped just her second dual match of the season. Bartolome dropped a 2-6, 1-6 decision to Sophia Geier at the No. 1 spot.
Akron then jumped to a 3-1 lead after collecting wins at No. 5 and No. 3 singles.
Rezende got things going again for Pitt, recording a 7-5, 7-5, win on court four for her 10th win of the year.
Freshman Mariona Perez Noguera came up clutch at the No. 6 position, outlasting Enya Forgaci in three sets. Perez Noguera took the first 6-2, dropped the second 5-7, and came back to win it, 6-3, to tie the team score, 3-3.
It all came down to Varon on court two. The senior won the first set, 7-5, then fell 6-7 (3-6) in the second, but battled back to take the third, 7-6 (7-2).
The Panthers resume action Sunday, Feb. 10 for their first ACC road trip of the year as they take on Louisville.
DOUBLES
1. Gabriela Rezende/Claudia Bartolome (UP) def. Rita Pedroso/Miruna Vasilescu (AKRON) 6-3
2. Sophia Geier/Anna Uljanov (AKRON) def. Natsumi Okamoto/Luisa Varon (UP) 5-4
3. Clara Lucas/Camila Moreno (UP) def. Luisa Echeverry/Enya Forgaci (AKRON) 6-2
SINGLES
1. Sophia Geier (AKRON) def. #86 Claudia Bartolome (UP) 6-2, 6-1
2. Luisa Varon (UP) def. Miruna Vasilescu (AKRON) 7-5, 6-7 (3-6), 7-6 (7-2)
3. Anna Uljanov (AKRON) def. Camila Moreno (UP) 7-5, 6-2
4. Gabriela Rezende (UP) def. Rita Pedroso (AKRON) 7-5, 7-5
5. Luisa Echeverry (AKRON) def. Natsumi Okamoto (UP) 6-4, 6-2
6. M. Perez Noguera (UP) def. Enya Forgaci (AKRON) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (1,5,3,4,6,2)
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Pitt clinched the doubles point and secured three singles wins en route to the non-conference victory. The Panthers move to 3-3 overall after handing the Zips their first loss of the season (7-1).
"I'm really proud of this team for having the passion, resiliency, and toughness to come back from a 3-1 deficit against a team that was undefeated until today," said head coach Alex Santos. "I think we played our best doubles so far today. To see Mariona [Perez Noguera] and Luisa leave their hearts on the courts will inspire us to continue the process. I'm just extremely happy that the girls worked to experience a unique feeling."
The Panthers clinched the doubles point thanks to back-to-back wins on courts three and one. Senior Clara Lucas and sophomore Camila Moreno cruised to a 6-2 victory at the No. 3 position before senior Gabriela Rezende and sophomore Claudia Bartolome turned in a 6-3 win at No. 1.
The Zips tied things up 1-1 after No. 86 Bartolome dropped just her second dual match of the season. Bartolome dropped a 2-6, 1-6 decision to Sophia Geier at the No. 1 spot.
Akron then jumped to a 3-1 lead after collecting wins at No. 5 and No. 3 singles.
Rezende got things going again for Pitt, recording a 7-5, 7-5, win on court four for her 10th win of the year.
Freshman Mariona Perez Noguera came up clutch at the No. 6 position, outlasting Enya Forgaci in three sets. Perez Noguera took the first 6-2, dropped the second 5-7, and came back to win it, 6-3, to tie the team score, 3-3.
It all came down to Varon on court two. The senior won the first set, 7-5, then fell 6-7 (3-6) in the second, but battled back to take the third, 7-6 (7-2).
The Panthers resume action Sunday, Feb. 10 for their first ACC road trip of the year as they take on Louisville.
DOUBLES
1. Gabriela Rezende/Claudia Bartolome (UP) def. Rita Pedroso/Miruna Vasilescu (AKRON) 6-3
2. Sophia Geier/Anna Uljanov (AKRON) def. Natsumi Okamoto/Luisa Varon (UP) 5-4
3. Clara Lucas/Camila Moreno (UP) def. Luisa Echeverry/Enya Forgaci (AKRON) 6-2
SINGLES
1. Sophia Geier (AKRON) def. #86 Claudia Bartolome (UP) 6-2, 6-1
2. Luisa Varon (UP) def. Miruna Vasilescu (AKRON) 7-5, 6-7 (3-6), 7-6 (7-2)
3. Anna Uljanov (AKRON) def. Camila Moreno (UP) 7-5, 6-2
4. Gabriela Rezende (UP) def. Rita Pedroso (AKRON) 7-5, 7-5
5. Luisa Echeverry (AKRON) def. Natsumi Okamoto (UP) 6-4, 6-2
6. M. Perez Noguera (UP) def. Enya Forgaci (AKRON) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (1,5,3,4,6,2)
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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