Crummey and Lopez Remain Undefeated in Singles Play; Danes win 5-2
Photo: Cat Crummey (above) and Rocio Lopez are 3-0 in singles play to open up 2013.
Schedule | Stats
Albany, N.Y. –
The University at Albany women’s tennis team showed their poise on Thursday
with a 5-2 win over Fairfield University. The match was on a make-up date due
to Snowstorm Nemo -- it was played in the campus bubble. The Great Danes improved
to 2-1 on the season with freshman Cat Crummey and junior Rocio Lopez remaining
unblemished in singles play.
The match began with three thrilling doubles competitions.
Former internationally-ranked Spaniard, Irene Santos-Bravo, made her dual match
debut at the No. 1 doubles position. Along with Lopez, the two quickly dropped
the first five games. From there, the Spanish-tandem began to dominate. They
won seven of the next nine games to take the match into a tie-break. They would
eventually fall just short losing, 8-7 (6).
The No. 1 position was not the only exciting doubles play
happening in the bubble. Both the No. 2 and No. 3 teams would award UAlbany
their first point of the match, as they both defeated Stag opponents. Senior
Sarah Iannone and sophomore Fran White won their first match together this
season, an 8-6 victory. The freshman duo, Mireille Hermans and Crummey,
clinched the match’s first point with a tie-break win, 8-7 (5).
UAlbany (2-1, 0-0 AE) took their
doubles momentum and continued to roll in singles play. Both Lopez and Crummey
improved to 3-0 on the season. Crummey, a 2012 Shaker graduate, dominated
Fairfield’s Tori Pirello at the No. 4 position, 6-1, 6-1. Lopez defeated
Sharissa Ryan at the No. 2 singles spot by the same margin.
Elsewhere, Iannone won her first singles match of 2013. She
defeated Nikki Jackson, 8-5. Santos-Bravo also won in her debut at the No. 2
spot. She defeated Alison Radde, 6-3, 6-2. Hermans played at the No. 1 position
for the first time in her collegiate career. She lost in a tight match, 4-6,
6-4, 6-0. Fairfield (1-3, 1-0 MAAC) also won the No. 6 singles matches.
"We had another good team effort today. Winning the doubles point
was key to our overall team victory. Our No. 3 team [Iannone and White] played
their best match yet.” said coach Gordon Graham. "A nice win in front of
several UA staff, students and others."
The Great Danes will next travel to Quinnipiac on Sunday,
Feb. 17. Match time is set for 2 p.m. Their next home match is Sunday, March 3
against the University of Rhode Island. Time is set for 11:00 a.m. at Sportime.
RESULTS:
UALBANY 5, FAIRFIELD 2
Doubles
1.
Yajima-Pirrello (F) def. Lopez-Santos (UA) 8-7 (6)
2. Hermans-Crummey
(UA) def. Radde-Ryan (F) 8-7 (5)*
3. Iannone-White
(UA) def. Jackson-Jamson (F) 8-6
Order of finish:
3,1,2.
*=Clinched doubles point.
Singles
1. Monica Yajima (F)
def. Mireille Hermans (UA) 4-6,6-4,6-0
2. Rocio Lopez
(UA) def. Sharissa Ryan (F) 6-1,6-1
3. Irene
Santos (UA) def. Alison Radde (F) 6-3,6-2
4. Cat Crummey
(UA) def. Tori Pirello (F) 6-1,6-1$$
5. Sarah
Iannone (UA) def. Nikki Jackson (F) 8-5
6. Emma Jamson (F)
def. Francine White (UA) 8-3
Order of finish:
2,3,1,4,5,6
$$=Match clincher
