NEW YORK—Columbia erased an early deficit by winning five of six singles matches as it claimed a 5-2 women's tennis victory over Brown Saturday afternoon at Dick Savitt Tennis Center. With the victory, Columbia improves to 11-8 overall and 3-3 in the Ivy League standings. A win tomorrow for Columbia against Yale in its season finale would clinch a winning season in a challenging Ivy League.
First-year Jennifer Kerr clinched the victory for Columbia as she fought off Alyza Benotto for a 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles. The victory marked her 20th singles win on the year. Junior co-captain Andrea Kevakian followed with a come-from-behind 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 win over Brown's Devon Jack at No. 3 singles to seal the 5-2 win for Columbia. Kevakian also improved to 22-7 on the season.
"Playing at home today gave us a tremendous lift," Columbia Head Coach Ilene Weintraub said. "Today, it was our big crowd that pushed the women to the win. Adi Milstein, Ali Pollack and Sarah Hu did a great job of getting off the court quickly in two sets and that really helped our team with momentum. Andrea Kevakian did a great job of coming back down a set at 4-1 to keep us in it as a team. That alleviated some of the pressure for Jennifer Kerr and Andrea when they had to clinch."
It wasn't easy for Columbia. The Lions found themselves trailing 2-1 after the Bears claimed the doubles point with wins at No. 3 and No. 2 doubles. After junior Sarah Hu put Columbia on the board with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Brown's Courtney Kowalsky, Brown's Maddie Stearns defeated first-year Christie Wan 6-4, 6-3 at No. 1 singles to put the Lions in a deficit.
But it was all Columbia from that point on as the Lions won all four remaining singles matches. Senior Adi Milstein won a 6-3, 6-2 match over Brown's Juliana Simon at No. 6 singles, then sophomore Ali Pollack came away with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Brown's Taylor Cosme for a 3-2 Lion lead. Kerr and Kevakian followed with their match and final victories.
Columbia closes its 2017-18 season tomorrow afternoon against Yale. First-serve is at 1 p.m. at Dick Savitt Tennis Center. Senior Adi Milstein will be honored in a pre-match ceremony.
"In a very tough league, it would be a great success if we finish 4-3," Weintraub said. "Our goal going into every match is not necessarily about the result, but giving 100 percent effort. I believe if we give 100 percent effort tomorrow, the result will take care of itself."
"I'm very proud of all of Adi's accomplishments and especially her leadership this year," Weintraub said. "She has been a very loyal, committed and dedicated player on our team for four years and I look forward to watching her play her last match at Columbia."
COLUMBIA 5, BROWN 2 (Women's Tennis)
Saturday, April 21, 2018, Dick Savitt Tennis Center, New York, N.Y.
Singles
No. 1: Maddie Stearns (Brown) defeats Christie Wan (Columbia) 6-4, 6-3.
No. 2: Jennifer Kerr (Columbia) defeats Alyza Benotto (Brown) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.
No. 3: Andrea Kevakian (Columbia) defeats Devon Jack (Brown) 2-6, 7-6, 6-4.
No. 4: Ali Pollack (Columbia) defeats Taylor Cosme (Brown) 6-3, 6-3.
No. 5: Sarah Hu (Columbia) defeats Courtney Kowalsky (Brown) 6-0, 6-2.
No. 6: Adi Milstein (Columbia) defeats Juliana Simon (Brown) 6-3, 6-2.
Doubles
No. 1: Adi Milstein/Christie Wan (Columbia) vs. Maddie Stearns/Courtney Kowalsky (Brown) 6-5, unfinished.
No. 2: Alyza Benotto/Devon Jack (Brown) defeats Sarah Hu/Jennifer Kerr (Columbia) 6-4.
No. 3: Katie Ta/Semi Oloko (Brown) defeats Andrea Kevakian/Paulina Ferrari (Columbia) 6-4.
Final Score: Columbia 5, Brown 2; Time of Match: 2:57. Order of Finish: Doubles- 3, 2; Singles- 5, 1, 6, 4, 2, 3. Records: Columbia: 11-8, 3-3 Ivy League; Brown 10-12, 3-3 Ivy League; Attendance: 127.
