Results
The New York University women's tennis team, ranked #29 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), fell to #12 ranked Washington University in St. Louis 8-1 on Friday, April 22, in Altamonte Springs, FL, in the first round of the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship.
The Violets (8-3), seeded #6 at the Championship, posted only one victory against the #3-seeded Bears (14-7). Junior
Laila El Dessouki picked up NYU's win with a three-set victory over Lisa Chionis (3-6, 6-4, 10-5) at #3 singles.
"I can't lie. I am disappointed by the score," said Head Coach
Horace Choy. "The play by the women today was a lot more competitive and closer than the final score reflects, But, that is what can happen against UAA competition. Wash U. is ranked #12 for a reason."
Washington swept all three doubles matches, though it took a tiebreaker for NYU's #1 team of senior
Carmen Lai and freshman
Flyora Shiyanova (9-8, 7-3) to fall.
"It is hard to come back from 3-0," Choy explained. "The first doubles matchup was important. If that would have gone in our favor, the outcome would have been a lot closer."
Shiyanova also lost a close match at #2 singles to the Bears' Jamie Silverberg 6-4, 7-5.
The Violets will return to the Sanlando Park tennis courts on Saturday, April 23, for day two of the UAA Championship. NYU will take on #7 seed and #30-ranked Brandeis University at 2:00 pm.
