Saturday, February 7
Princeton, N.J.
5:00 PM
Columbia
3
vs
4
No. 2 Penn
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin
Women’s Tennis Falls to Penn in Semifinals of ECAC Indoor Championships
2/7/2026 8:49:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Lions go up 3-1, but cannot clinch the match
PRINCETON, N.J. – The Columbia women's tennis team battled but came out on the losing end of a marathon match against Ivy League rival Penn, falling 4-3, in the semifinals of the ECAC Indoor Championship at Lenz Tennis Center on Saturday evening.
The Lions (3-2) captured the doubles point and led the match 3-1, but could not put the match away, as Penn rallied back to take the lengthy three-plus hour affair.
Columbia opened the match, seizing the early momentum. Winning the doubles point with wins on courts one and two. The 53rd-ranked duo of Malak El Allami and Amber Yin put away Penn's duo of Esha Velaga/Sasha Motlagh, 6-0.
The Lions secured the doubles point on court two when Gayathri Krishnan and Sabrina Lin soundly defeated Maya Urata and Joleen Saw 6-2.
Leading 1-0 after the doubles point, the Lions looked to close out the match quickly with wins on courts two and six to lead 3-1. Krishnan made quick work of the Quaker's Maya Urata, winning 6-0, 6-1 on court two. Margaret Hui also notched a win in straight sets, defeating Sasha Motlagh 6-2, 7-6(3) on court six.
Penn (4-2) started its rally on court one. Esha Velaga defeated El Allami 7-5, 6-1. Penn also notched wins on courts three and four, with Lara Stojanovski defeating Sophia Wang 6-4, 7-5. On court four, Joleen Saw came back to defeat Emily Baek 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
The match came down to court five, where Amber Yin took on Varsha Vedula. Vedula captured the first set, with Yin storming back in the second. In the third, Yin was serving with the set tied 4-4, but Vedula was able to break serve and held on to win, 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4.
Columbia returns to action tomorrow at 11 a.m. when they take on Brown in the third-place match.
RESULTS
Singles
1. Esha Velaga (PENN) def. #106 Malak El Allami (COL), 7-5, 6-1
2. Gayathri Krishnan (COL) def. Maya Urata (PENN), 6-0, 6-1
3. Lara Stojanovski (PENN) def. Sophia Wang (COL), 6-4, 7-5
4. Joleen Saw (PENN) def. Emily Baek (COL) vs. 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Varsha Vedula (PENN) def. Amber Yin (COL) 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4
6. Margaret Hui (COL) vs. Sasha Motlagh (PENN), 6-2, 7-6(3)
Doubles
1. #53 Malak El Allami/Amber Yin (COL) def. Esha Velaga/Sasha Motlagh (PENN), 6-0
2. Gayathri Krishnan/Sabrina Lin (COL) def. Maya Urata/Joleen Saw (PENN), 6-2
3. Emily Baek/Sophia Wang (COL) vs. Varsha Vedula/Lara Stojanovski (PENN), 2-5 unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,1,6,3,4,5)
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).
The Lions (3-2) captured the doubles point and led the match 3-1, but could not put the match away, as Penn rallied back to take the lengthy three-plus hour affair.
Columbia opened the match, seizing the early momentum. Winning the doubles point with wins on courts one and two. The 53rd-ranked duo of Malak El Allami and Amber Yin put away Penn's duo of Esha Velaga/Sasha Motlagh, 6-0.
The Lions secured the doubles point on court two when Gayathri Krishnan and Sabrina Lin soundly defeated Maya Urata and Joleen Saw 6-2.
Leading 1-0 after the doubles point, the Lions looked to close out the match quickly with wins on courts two and six to lead 3-1. Krishnan made quick work of the Quaker's Maya Urata, winning 6-0, 6-1 on court two. Margaret Hui also notched a win in straight sets, defeating Sasha Motlagh 6-2, 7-6(3) on court six.
Penn (4-2) started its rally on court one. Esha Velaga defeated El Allami 7-5, 6-1. Penn also notched wins on courts three and four, with Lara Stojanovski defeating Sophia Wang 6-4, 7-5. On court four, Joleen Saw came back to defeat Emily Baek 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
The match came down to court five, where Amber Yin took on Varsha Vedula. Vedula captured the first set, with Yin storming back in the second. In the third, Yin was serving with the set tied 4-4, but Vedula was able to break serve and held on to win, 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4.
Columbia returns to action tomorrow at 11 a.m. when they take on Brown in the third-place match.
RESULTS
Singles
1. Esha Velaga (PENN) def. #106 Malak El Allami (COL), 7-5, 6-1
2. Gayathri Krishnan (COL) def. Maya Urata (PENN), 6-0, 6-1
3. Lara Stojanovski (PENN) def. Sophia Wang (COL), 6-4, 7-5
4. Joleen Saw (PENN) def. Emily Baek (COL) vs. 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Varsha Vedula (PENN) def. Amber Yin (COL) 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4
6. Margaret Hui (COL) vs. Sasha Motlagh (PENN), 6-2, 7-6(3)
Doubles
1. #53 Malak El Allami/Amber Yin (COL) def. Esha Velaga/Sasha Motlagh (PENN), 6-0
2. Gayathri Krishnan/Sabrina Lin (COL) def. Maya Urata/Joleen Saw (PENN), 6-2
3. Emily Baek/Sophia Wang (COL) vs. Varsha Vedula/Lara Stojanovski (PENN), 2-5 unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,1,6,3,4,5)
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).
Players Mentioned
/ 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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