NEW YORK—The Columbia women's tennis team honored senior Adi Milstein with a dominating 6-1 victory over Yale in its season finale Sunday at Dick Savitt Tennis Center. With the win, Columbia guaranteed itself of a winning year in the Ivy League with a 4-3 conference record and 12-8 overall record. Yale drops to 6-18 overall and 0-7 in the Ivy League.
"We had a great crowd and great support from our alumni today," Columbia Head Coach Ilene Weintraub said. "I felt that our crowd pushed the team to victory today. It was Adi's last match, so I think our team wanted to win for her and send her out with a victory."
Weintraub also spoke about what the winning season meant for her program moving forward.
"This was a great step forward for our program to achieve our goal of winning our second Ivy League championship and making it into the postseason," Columbia Head Coach Ilene Weintraub said. "With the incoming first-years who arrive in September, along with the returners, it bodes well for next season. I'm proud of our team this year and how much effort they put in, along with their positive energy. The results were felt today."
Columbia secured the doubles point and took a quick 1-0 lead by sweeping Yale with three straight wins. Junior Andrea Kevakian and first-year Paulina Ferrari teamed for a 6-4 win at No. 3 doubles, junior Sarah Hu and first-year Jennifer Kerr defeated Yale's Amy Yang and Valerie Shklover 6-4 at No. 2 doubles to claim a 1-0 Lion lead.
Columbia quickly went up 3-0 as sophomore Ali Pollack won a 6-3, 6-1 decision over Yale's Elizabeth Zordani at No. 4 singles and Milstein followed with a 6-3, 6-1 senior day victory over Yale's Sarah Cameron at No. 6 singles. Junior Sarah Hu followed with the victory clinching win at No. 5 singles, winning a 6-1, 6-3 decision over Yale's Caroline Amos.
After Yale's Samantha Martinelli notched a hard-fought 6-3, 2-6, 10-8 win over Wan at No. 1 singles, Kerr won a 6-0, 6-6 (7-4) win at No. 2 singles over Yale's Valerie Shklover. Kevakian closed down the 2017-18 season with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Yale's Amy Yang at No. 3 singles.
Columbia returns its entire team with the exception of Milstein.
"We don't try to focus on results, we try to focus on effort level, on being the most prepared team in the league and on being the most fit team in the league," Weintraub said. "I have to thank our assistant coaches, thank our assistant coaches, our strength coach Tommy Sheehan, who did a tremendous job with our players and the players themelves. They did a great job in the weight room and on the court."
Columbia honored Milstein in a pre-match senior day ceremony. Milstein was joined by her parents Steven and Pnina and younger brothers Oren and Ben.
"We are all definitely going to miss her leadership and work ethic," Weintraub said. "She's been an amazing student-athlete all four years and we wish her the best of luck in the future."
COLUMBIA 6, YALE 1 (Women's Tennis)
Sunday, April 22, 2018, Dick Savitt Tennis Center, New York, N.Y.
Singles
No. 1: Samantha Martinelli (Yale) defeats Christie Wan (Columbia) 6-3, 2-6, 10-8.
No. 2: Jennifer Kerr (Columbia) defeats Valerie Shklover (Yale) 6-0, 6-6 (7-4).
No. 3: Andrea Kevakian (Columbia) defeats Amy Yang (Yale) 6-4, 7-5.
No. 4: Ali Pollack (Columbia) defeats Elizabeth Zordani (Yale) 6-3, 6-1.
No. 5: Sarah Hu (Columbia) defeats Caroline Amos (Yale) 6-1, 6-3.
No. 6: Adi Milstein (Columbia) defeats Sarah Cameron (Yale) 6-3, 6-1.
Doubles
No. 1: Adi Milstein/Christie Wan (Columbia) defeats Samantha Martinelli/Elizabeth Zordani (Yale) 6-4.
No. 2: Sarah Hu/Jennifer Kerr (Columbia) defeats Amy Yang/Valerie Shklover (Yale) 6-4.
No. 3: Andrea Kevakian/Paulina Ferrari (Columbia) defeats Caroline Amos/Sarah Cameron (Yale) 6-4.
Final Score: Columbia 6, Yale 1; Time of Match: 2:14. Order of Finish: Doubles- 3, 2, 1; Singles- 4, 6, 5, 1, 2, 3. Records: Columbia: 12-8, 4-3 Ivy League; Yale 6-18, 0-7 Ivy League; Attendance: 93.
