UAlbany Narrowly Drops Match to Sacred Heart
Photo: Sarah Iannone (above) won both her matches on Wednesday against Sacred Heart.
LATHAM, N.Y. -- The University at Albany women’s tennis team dropped a close match to Sacred Heart on Wednesday, March 13. They were defeated 4-3. Senior Sarah Iannone won both her singles and doubles matches while the duo of junior Rocio Lopez and sophomore Kirsten Scott won their fourth doubles match in a row.
The match was played in reverse order due to court availability, with singles going first, followed by doubles. Freshman Cat Crummey extended her singles win streak to three with a three-set, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, victory at No. 4 singles over Sacred Heart’s Paige Olson. Iannone also defeated Lindsey Post at the No. 5 singles spot, 6-4, 6-4.
Elsewhere in singles, Lopez and Scott took early leads in their respective matches. The Pioneers (4-4, 0-2 MAAC) would come back however, earning key wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots. The match was clinched by Katie DeRienzo, who defeated Scott, 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.
In doubles play UAlbany's Lopez and Scott defeated Gabi Kaldan and Olson, 8-1. The Great Danes No. 1 doubles team have now won a combined 24-2 in their last three matches. Iannone and sophomore co-captain Fran White also recorded a win at the No. 3 doubles spot, 8-5.
"This was a tough loss and a winnable match,” said head coach Gordon Graham. “We will take a lesson from this and get better in practice, coach smarter, and compete tougher next time."
UAlbany (5-6, 1-0 AE) will next focus on a trip to South Carolina where they play three teams in 10 days. These included nationally-ranked College of Charleston, Presbyterian and Costal Carolina. The trip will run from March 18-23.
UAlbany 3, Sacred Heart 4 (Tri-City Fitness, March 13)
