Friday, April 22
Harrison, N.Y./LifeTime Westchester
6:30 P.M.
Columbia University
4
vs
2
Penn
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics
No. 56 Lions Defeat No. 63 Penn 4-2 on Senior Night
4/22/2022 9:45:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Lions win third straight match, notch four singles matches for the victory, Jennifer Kerr, Michelle Xu, Melissa Sakar, and Shivani Amineni win singles matches; Lions honor 5 Seniors in pre-match ceremony.
HARRISON, N.Y.—The No. 56 ranked Columbia Women's Tennis sent its five seniors out in style Friday evening as it battled back to win four singles matches in notching its third consecutive victory, a 4-2 win over No. 63 Penn at LifeTime Westchester.
In a pre-match ceremony, Columbia honored its five graduating seniors: Yekaterina Alferova, Akanksha Bhan, Jennifer Kerr, Melissa Sakar, and Caitie Sullivan.
Penn took the momentum and went up 1-0 after claiming the doubles points with two straight wins. Marija Curnic and Iuliia Bryzagalova notched a 6-2 win over Columbia's Akanksha Bhan and Anna Zhang at No. 1 doubles, then Penn's Amanda Chen and Ekaterina Vinnir won a 6-4 decision over Columbia's Winta Tewolde and Sophia Strugnell at No. 3.
The Lions battled back in singles. Jennifer Kerr closed out a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Penn's Curnic at No. 3 singles to even the score at 1-1. Columbia then took a 2-1 lead after Michelle Xu claimed a 6-1, 6-1 win over Penn's Saige Roshkoff at No. 6 singles.
Penn tied the score again at 2-2 when Iuliia Bryzgalova won a 6-3, 6-2 decision over Columbia's Akanksha Bhan (No. 112 ranked) at No. 1 singles.
From there, Columbia claimed each of the last two contests to win on Senior Night. Melissa Sakar won a 7-5, 6-3 decision over Penn's Gavriella Smith at No. 4 singles for a 3-2 Lions lead, then Shivani Amineni, with the entire crowd watching, clinched the match with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 victory at No. 5 singles.
Columbia closes out its regular season on Sunday when it travels to No. 49 Princeton for a 1 p.m. match.
In a pre-match ceremony, Columbia honored its five graduating seniors: Yekaterina Alferova, Akanksha Bhan, Jennifer Kerr, Melissa Sakar, and Caitie Sullivan.
Penn took the momentum and went up 1-0 after claiming the doubles points with two straight wins. Marija Curnic and Iuliia Bryzagalova notched a 6-2 win over Columbia's Akanksha Bhan and Anna Zhang at No. 1 doubles, then Penn's Amanda Chen and Ekaterina Vinnir won a 6-4 decision over Columbia's Winta Tewolde and Sophia Strugnell at No. 3.
The Lions battled back in singles. Jennifer Kerr closed out a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Penn's Curnic at No. 3 singles to even the score at 1-1. Columbia then took a 2-1 lead after Michelle Xu claimed a 6-1, 6-1 win over Penn's Saige Roshkoff at No. 6 singles.
Penn tied the score again at 2-2 when Iuliia Bryzgalova won a 6-3, 6-2 decision over Columbia's Akanksha Bhan (No. 112 ranked) at No. 1 singles.
From there, Columbia claimed each of the last two contests to win on Senior Night. Melissa Sakar won a 7-5, 6-3 decision over Penn's Gavriella Smith at No. 4 singles for a 3-2 Lions lead, then Shivani Amineni, with the entire crowd watching, clinched the match with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 victory at No. 5 singles.
Columbia closes out its regular season on Sunday when it travels to No. 49 Princeton for a 1 p.m. match.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ 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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