Saturday, February 2
New York, N.Y./Dick Savitt Tennis Center
1:00 PM
Columbia
4
vs
1
FIU
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics
Women's Tennis Claims 4-1 Win over FIU
2/2/2019 5:39:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Lions win doubles point, claim three straight singles matches by Akanksha Bhan, Sarah Hu and Melissa Sakar to take their second victory of the season.
NEW YORK—Columbia won its second consecutive women's tennis match as it claimed a convincing 4-1 victory over Florida International Saturday afternoon at Dick Savitt Tennis Center. The Lions improve to 2-1 in dual matches on the year, while FIU drops to 0-1.
Last year, Florida International finished ranked No. 41 in the ITA national rankings. The Lions played FIU, traditionally a top-30 program, for the fourth straight year. The Panthers had defeated the Lions in each of the last two seasonal matchups.
Columbia came out strong in doubles, capturing the doubles point in quick fashion. First-years Melissa Sakar and Yekaterina Alferova defeated FIU's Sanda Bozinovic and Mariia Solnyshkiam 6-4 at No. 3 doubles, then sophomore Paulina Ferrari and first-year Akansksha Bhan won 6-4 over FIU's team of Kamila Umarova and Maryna Veksler at No. 1 doubles. The Lions' duo of sophomore Christie Wan and junior Andrea Kevakian also led 5-4 at No. 2 doubles before play ended.
In singles, FIU tied the match up at 1-1 after Paulina Baikaite registered a 6-0, 6-2 win over Alferova at No. 5 singles. But the tie did not last long as Columbia's Bhan registered a 6-1, 6-4 win over Veksler at No. 2 singles, Columbia senior Sarah Hu followed through with a 6-4, 6-1 win over FIU's Solnyshkiam at No. 6 singles and Sakar battled back to notch a 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 win at No. 3 singles over Bozinovic.
Both Wan (No. 1) and Kevakian (No. 4) led in their respective singles matches before Columbia registered its fourth win.
"As a sophomore, it was inspiring seeing a freshman step up in the middle of adversity to clinch for us," sophomore Paulina Ferrari said. "It really speaks to our team culture and support this year that I think is going to make for a great spring!"
"FIU definitely was a tough team for us last year, but the results of today show just how far we've come as a team," sophomore Jennifer Kerr said. "It's only the beginning of the spring season but we're bringing our all."
Kerr sat out today's match with an illness, but is expected to return next weekend.
"We've put an emphasis on improving our doubles play and today we proved to ourselves that the hard work and training is paying off after decisively winning the doubles point against a very good team," Assistant Coach AJ Nelson said. "Congratulations to first-year Melissa Sakar for clinching the match after losing her first set and then rallying back to win, 1-6, 6-1, 7-5. The depth of our team is exciting and we look forward to ECACs next weekend."
Columbia (2-1) is back in action next weekend, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 8-10, when it travels to New Haven, Conn. for its annual ECAC Tournament. Pairings for the weekend matches consisting of Ivy League opponents will be announced this week.
Last year, Florida International finished ranked No. 41 in the ITA national rankings. The Lions played FIU, traditionally a top-30 program, for the fourth straight year. The Panthers had defeated the Lions in each of the last two seasonal matchups.
Columbia came out strong in doubles, capturing the doubles point in quick fashion. First-years Melissa Sakar and Yekaterina Alferova defeated FIU's Sanda Bozinovic and Mariia Solnyshkiam 6-4 at No. 3 doubles, then sophomore Paulina Ferrari and first-year Akansksha Bhan won 6-4 over FIU's team of Kamila Umarova and Maryna Veksler at No. 1 doubles. The Lions' duo of sophomore Christie Wan and junior Andrea Kevakian also led 5-4 at No. 2 doubles before play ended.
In singles, FIU tied the match up at 1-1 after Paulina Baikaite registered a 6-0, 6-2 win over Alferova at No. 5 singles. But the tie did not last long as Columbia's Bhan registered a 6-1, 6-4 win over Veksler at No. 2 singles, Columbia senior Sarah Hu followed through with a 6-4, 6-1 win over FIU's Solnyshkiam at No. 6 singles and Sakar battled back to notch a 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 win at No. 3 singles over Bozinovic.
Both Wan (No. 1) and Kevakian (No. 4) led in their respective singles matches before Columbia registered its fourth win.
"As a sophomore, it was inspiring seeing a freshman step up in the middle of adversity to clinch for us," sophomore Paulina Ferrari said. "It really speaks to our team culture and support this year that I think is going to make for a great spring!"
"FIU definitely was a tough team for us last year, but the results of today show just how far we've come as a team," sophomore Jennifer Kerr said. "It's only the beginning of the spring season but we're bringing our all."
Kerr sat out today's match with an illness, but is expected to return next weekend.
"We've put an emphasis on improving our doubles play and today we proved to ourselves that the hard work and training is paying off after decisively winning the doubles point against a very good team," Assistant Coach AJ Nelson said. "Congratulations to first-year Melissa Sakar for clinching the match after losing her first set and then rallying back to win, 1-6, 6-1, 7-5. The depth of our team is exciting and we look forward to ECACs next weekend."
Columbia (2-1) is back in action next weekend, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 8-10, when it travels to New Haven, Conn. for its annual ECAC Tournament. Pairings for the weekend matches consisting of Ivy League opponents will be announced this week.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Columbia Classics Shorts - Women's Tennis 2013 Ivy League Championship
Monday, April 12
