Joo Propels NYU Past Haverford for First Victory of Season

Violets End Regular Season with 5-4 Victory

Joo's sixth singles victory turned out to be the deciding match against Haverford.

The NYU women's tennis team picked up its first win of the season, defeating visiting Haverford College 5-4 on Sunday at the Bogota Racquet Club in Bogota, NJ. The Violets, now 1-8 this season, will head into the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship next week.

On Sunday, NYU needed every match to claim the victory, but took an early lead behind two doubles victories. Sophomore Ariel Sultan and senior Elizabeth Stachtiaris won 8-3 at #1, while senior co-captain Sara Joo and freshman Ramya Pokala posted an 8-5 win at #3. In second doubles play, senior co-captain Lisa Mijovic and fellow senior Liz Feldman were narrowly defeated 8-6.

Turning to the singles slate, Stachtiaris lost 6-4, 6-1 at #1 and Feldman lost 6-4, 6-3 at #2. Sultan used three sets to pull out a 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 win in the third slot. Mijovic added to the NYU cushion with a 7-5, 6-4 victory at #4.

Pokala fell in three sets at fifth singles, 4-6, 6-2, 11-9, allowing for a 4-4 tie heading into the decisive #6 match. Joo, playing in the last regular-season match of her NYU career, notched a 6-2, 6-4 victory to give NYU the 5-4 win over Haverford.

"I'm happy for us," said Violet head coach Horace Choy. "We've been working hard all season and wanted nothing less than a victory today."

NYU now turns its attention to the UAA Championship on April 22-24.

"The competition will be brutal at UAA's," added Choy. "We really wanted to take advantage of every opportunity today so we could go in there on a high note."

Seedings for the conference championships will be determined early this week.

NYU 5, Haverford College 4

Doubles
1. Sultan/Stachtiaris (NYU) def. Wettick/Ferrara (HAV) 8-3
2. Drooyan/Donches (HAV) def. Mijovic/Feldman (NYU) 8-6
3. Pokala/Joo (NYU) def. Fisun/Torg (HAV) 8-5

Singles
1. Wettick (HAV) def. Stachtiaris (NYU) 6-4, 6-1
2. Ferrara (HAV) def. Feldman (NYU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Sultan (NYU) def. Fisun (HAV) 6-3, 4-6, 10-8
4. Mijovic (NYU) def. Drooyan (HAV) 7-5, 6-4
5. Donches (HAV) def. Pokala (NYU) 4-6, 6-2, 11-9
6. Joo (NYU) def. Bloom (HAV) 6-2, 6-4