NEW YORK – The 69th-ranked Columbia women's tennis team took the doubles point and was poised to grab a huge home win over first place Harvard. However, the Crimson were able to withstand the Lions early momentum and defeated Columbia, 4-3, on Saturday afternoon at the Phillip & Cheryl Milstein Tennis Center.
With the loss, Columbia (12-9, 3-3 Ivy) falls to 7-3 at home this year. Harvard (14-8, 6-0 Ivy) captured the Ivy League crown with today's win.
The Lions took control of the match early, winning the doubles point thanks to wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 courts. Columbia's duo of Gaythri Krishnan/
Sophia Strugnell defeated Maxi Duncan/Kavya Karra 6-3. At the No. 2 court,
Fatima Keita and
Winta Tewolde battled their way to a 7-5 win over Angel You and Rachel Arbitman to clinch the doubles point.
In single's play, Columbia went up 2-0 in the match when
Gayathri Krishnan made quick work of Stephanie Yakoff at the No. 1 spot, winning 6-3, 6-2.
Harvard took the lead 3-2, recording wins at the No. 3, 4, and 5 spots. Columbia battled back, evening up the match with a thrilling victory at the No. 6 spot.
Sophia Strugnell defeated Natalie Block 7-5, 7-6 (7-3). On court two,
Fatima Keita battled the Crimson's Charlotte Owensby, but fell in three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to clinch the match for Harvard.
RESULTS
#69 Columbia 3, Harvard 4
Singles
1.
Gayathri Krishnan (COL) def. Stephanie Yakoff (HAR) 6-3, 6-2
2. Charlotte Owensby (HAR) def.
Fatima Keita (COL) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Katie Kim (HAR) def.
Sophia Wang (COL) 6-4, 6-3
4. Maxi Duncan (HAR) def.
Winta Tewolde (COL) 7-5, 6-3
5.
Emily Baek (COL) vs. Kavya Karra (HAR) 6-4, 7-6 (7-1)
6.
Sophia Strugnell (COL) def. Natalie Block (HAR) 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)
Singles Order: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 2
Doubles
1. Gaythri Krishnan/
Sophia Strugnell def. Maxi Duncan/Kavya Karra (HAR) 6-3
2.
Fatima Keita/
Winta Tewolde (COL) def. Angel You/Rachel Arbitman (HAR) 7-5
3. Stephanie Yakoff/Natlie Block (HAR) def.
Emily Baek/
Sophia Wang (COL) 6-3
Doubles Order: 1, 3, 2
UP NEXT
Columbia will play its final regular season match tomorrow afternoon when it hosts Dartmouth at 1 p.m. The Lions will honor their five seniors in a special Senior Day ceremony prior to the match.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
Stay up to date on all things Columbia Women's Tennis by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsWTEN), Instagram (@culionswten) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
