Women’s Tennis Holds On to Defeat Penn, 4-3

Sunday, April 7

New York, N.Y.

1:00 PM

Columbia University

#70 Penn

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Lem Photography

4/7/2024 5:49:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score (PDF)

Columbia is now 2-1 in Ivy League play

By: Garret Sulak

NEW YORK – The 44^th-ranked Columbia women's tennis team held its composure down the stretch to earn a 4-3 win over No. 70 Penn on Sunday afternoon inside the Philip and Cheryl Milstein Family Tennis Center.

With the win, Columbia improves to 14-4 overall this season. The Lions are now 2-1 in Ivy League action.

Columbia used a strong performance in doubles to take the early lead against Penn. The Lions grabbed wins in the No. 1 and 2 doubles to clinch the doubles point.

The duo of Anna Zhang and Sophia Wang earned a 6-2 win against Sabine Rutlauka and Eileen Wang in the top doubles. Gayathri Krishnan and Sophia Strugnell clinched the doubles point with a 6-2 win over Iris Gallo and Sasha Motlagh in the No. 2 spot.

Fatima Keita and Rachele Rimondini held a 4-3 lead in the No. 3 doubles against Esha Velaga and Maya Urata, but the match was abandoned when Columbia clinched the doubles victory.

Penn responded back by earning the first singles victory of the match. No. 114 Velaga posted a 6-3, 6-3 win over Zhang in the top singles.

The Lions reclaimed control as Krishnan finished off a 6-4, 6-3 victory against Eileen Wang in the No. 4 spot. Columbia extended its lead to 3-1 as Winta Tewolde fought past Gallo, 6-4, 6-1 in the No. 5 singles.

Penn answered again to trim Columbia's lead down, 3-2, as Urata took a 6-4, 6-4 win over Sophia Wang in the No. 6 spot. The Quakers then tied the match when Rutlauka rallied back from a set down to earn a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory against Keita in the No. 2 singles.

All eyes turned to the No. 3 singles match with Julia Haynes leading 4-0 in the third set. Haynes held on down the stretch after battling back from a set down to defeat Gavriella Smith, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 to secure Columbia's 4-3 win.

Columbia continues its Ivy League slate next weekend with two road matches. The Lions will play at Dartmouth on Saturday for a 1 p.m. first serve before finishing the weekend with a match at Harvard on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

RESULTS
#44 Columbia 4, #70 Penn 3

Singles
1. #114 Esha Velaga (PENN) def. Anna Zhang (COL) 6-3, 6-3
2. Sabine Rutlauka (PENN) def. Fatima Keita (COL) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Julia Haynes (COL) def. Gavriella Smith (PENN) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
4. Gayathri Krishnan (COL) def. Eileen Wang (PENN) 6-4, 6-3
5. Winta Tewolde (COL) def. Iris Gallo (PENN) 6-4, 6-1
6. Maya Urata (PENN) def. Sophia Wang (COL) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles
1. Anna Zhang/Sophia Wang (COL) def. Sabine Rutlauka/Eileen Wang (PENN) 6-2
2. Gayathri Krishnan/Sophia Strugnell (COL) def. Iris Gallo/Sasha Motlagh (PENN) 6-2
3. Fatima Keita/Rachele Rimondini (COL) vs. Esha Velaga/Maya Urata (PENN) 4-3 (unfinished)

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,4,5,6,2,3)

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