Slippery Rock University’s women’s tennis team fell to the Mercyhurst Lakers on Tuesday with a score of 8-1. It was the second loss in a row for The Rock in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) leaving the ladies right at .500 (7-7) for the season and 0-2 in PSAC.
To begin the day, the ladies were unable to take away a win in doubles play.
In the first set of doubles, Adrianna Jeffress and Kayla Frost overcame SRU’s sophomore Carla Corrochano Moracho with a final score of 8-0. Junior Stephanie Fortier and freshman Amanda Bruscemi were unable to overcome a series of tough matches just losing to the Lakers’ Annie Baich and Saioa Gomez de Segura with a score of 8-4.
The Rock’s sole win of the evening belonged to sophomore Nina Barbano. Barbano was able to gain the victory after losing in the first set and then overcoming the Lakers’ Adrianna Jeffress in the next two sets with scores of 0-6, 6-2, 6-2.
The Rock sophomore improved her overall season record to 11-9.
During the second flight of doubles, junior Tiffany Kollah and freshman Allie Welch were narrowly defeated by Mercyhurst’s Adina Spahalic and Carmen Mantecon Duro with a close score of 8-6.
“We have to start playing stronger doubles. I say this almost every week but it has been one of the main problems we have had this year,” Coach Meredith said. “Although we lost all but one match in singles, we played very competitively throughout and that is all I can ask.”
The Rock added to their woes in singles play. Gomez de Segura took down Corrochano with scores of 6-0, 6-1 in first singles. Freshman Allie Welch was bested by Adina Spahalic 6-0, 6-1.
Bruscemi lost to Baich 6-4, 6-0 while Duro overwhelmed Kollah 6-4, 6-1 at number three
singles and Fortier barely lost to Frost with scores of 2-6, 6-0, 10-8.
“Playing consecutive nationally ranked teams has certainly been tough,” Meredith said, “And Saturday will be no different. West Virginia State is a strong team with some very talented athletes. We need to focus up and do our best to beat them.”
The Rock will seek its first PSAC win when going up against the Yellow Jackets.
The match is set for this Saturday at the Slippery Rock Tennis Courts.
The match is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
