April 16, 2012

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Saint Joseph's women's tennis team capped its regular season with an impressive 4-3 victory at Villanova Monday afternoon. The Hawks picked up four singles victories to enter this upcoming weekend's Atlantic 10 Championship with momentum.

Saint Joseph's opened play with an 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles courtesy of senior Laura Matz and sophomore Devi Jadeja. The Wildcats would get the first point of the match though, earning a 9-8 win in the first flight after a 7-5 tiebreaker and an 8-6 decision at the second flight.

Switching to the singles matches, senior Tara Walsh posted a victory in her final nonconference match as a Hawk, winning 7-5, 6-4 at No. 6 singles. Freshman Lauren Roy was a 7-6 (3), 6-2 winner at the fifth set, while classmate Aurora Davis posted a 6-4, 7-5 victory at No. 2 singles.

With Villanova claiming wins at the third and fourth flights, the match came down to the third set of the top singles flight. Junior Casey Robinson opened her match with Mikelle Mancini with a 6-3, win, but dropped the next set, 3-6. In the decisive third set, the Hawks' Robinson came through for her team, winning 7-5 to give the Hawks the win.

The Hawks (9-16) return to action this Friday as they open play at the 2012 Atlantic 10 Championships. Matches, which will be played at the Boars Head Club in Charlottesville, Va., will be assigned later this week.

Singles
1. Casey Robinson (SJU) def. Mikelle Mancini (VU) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
2. Aurora Davis (SJU) def. Allison Solberg (VU) 6-4, 7-5
3. Sydney West (VU) def. Devi Jadeja (SJU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
4. Kate Pettee (VU) def. Kelly Mulquin (SJU) 6-4, 7-6 (5)
5. Lauren Roy (SJU) def. Amanda Nelson (VU) 7-6 (3), 6-2
6. Tara Walsh (SJU) def. Alexandra Harding (VU) 7-5, 6-4

Doubles
1. Mancini/West (VU) def. Robinson/Davis (SJU) 9-8 (7-5)
2. Solberg/Harding (VU) def. Roy/Mulquin (SJU) 8-6
3. Jadeja / Laura Matz (SJU) def. Gobberg/Donadio (VU) 8-6

Games
Saint Joseph's: 96
Villanova: 92