FORT LAUDERDALE - The Columbia women's tennis team concluded its spring break trip in Florida with an 8-1 win over Division II opponent Nova Southeastern. With the win, the Lions improve to 8-7 overall.
Division II scoring counts each doubles match as one point, as opposed to Division I, where one doubles point is awarded based on the best of three doubles matches. Columbia swept all three doubles spots and five of the six singles spots, over the Sharks, who hold a Division II national ranking of #24.
The Lions opened the match with strong doubles play, allowing Nova to win only five of the 29 sets played. The first-year duo of Nicole Bartnik and Katarina Kovacevic shut out their opponents, Elisa Leeder and Justine Feaster, 8-0 in the No. 1 doubles spot. At No. 2, first-year Chelsea Davis and junior Natasha Makarova beat Mary Crider and Paige Lindsley, 8-2, and at No. 3, Eliza Matache and Natalia Christenson won 8-3 against Nova's Blake Bauer and Federica Longo.
Heading into singles, Columbia had a 3-0 lead over Nova Southeastern, and the Lions would never look back. Co-captain Makarova led the way for Columbia playing in the No. 1 spot. There, the junior beat Leeder handily, 6-1, 6-0. Her doubles partner, Davis, had a strong match in the No. 2 spot. After dropping a tough first set 7-5, Davis rallied back to dominate in the second set, 6-1, and take the match in a super tiebreaker, 10-7. Kovacevic also had a super tiebreaker in the No. 3 singles spot, as she beat Bauer, 6-3, 4-6, 10-4.
Sophomore Matache had an easier time of it in the No. 4 spot, as she dropped Crider in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2, while first-year Diana Shapoval won at No. 5 by default. Nova's point came in the No. 6 spot, where Columbia first-year Lucy Leopold made her collegiate debut, falling to Longo, 6-3, 6-1.
The Lions now return home to New York City, where they will host local rival Fordham, Friday, March 26 at 4 p.m., in the team's last match before Ivy League play begins.
Columbia 8, Nova Southeastern 1
Doubles
1. Nicole Bartnik/Katarina Kovacevic (COL) def. Elisa Leeder/Justine Feaster (NSW) 8-0
2. Natasha Makarova/Chelsea Davis (COL) def. Mary Crider/Paige Lindsley (NSW) 8-2
3. Eliza Matache/Natalia Christenson (COL) def. Blake Bauer/Federica Longo (NSW) 8-3
Singles
1. Natasha Makarova (COL) def. Elisa Leeder (NSW) 6-1, 6-0
2. Chelsea Davis (COL) def. Justine Feaster (NSW) 5-7, 6-1, 10-7
3. Katarina Kovacevic (COL) def. Blake Bauer (NSW) 6-3, 4-6, 10-4
4. Eliza Matache (COL) def. Mary Crider (NSW) 6-0, 6-2
5. Diana Shapoval (COL) def. Paige Lindsley (NSW), by default
6. Federica Longo (NSW) def. Lucy Leopold (COL) 6-3, 6-1
