For the second time this season the College of Staten Island women’s tennis team followed up a tough loss with a big win, this time scoring a critical, 7-2, winner over visiting Baruch College in both team’s CUNYAC openers at the CSI Tennis Center.  CSI evened to 2-2 overall on the season and 1-0 in the CUNYAC, while the Bearcats, last year’s CUNYAC Postseason Championship runner-up, fell to 0-3, 0-1, respectively.
The Dolphins got going on the right foot early, posting up an early 2-1 advantage after doubles play, in what amounted to three one-sided matches.  CSI took flights one and three.  At No. 1 Doubles, the team of senior Gabriella Villarruel and freshman Ilona Stoyko scored an 8-0 win, while the pair of Yelena Rasporskaya and Qing Li took an 8-3 set over at the No. 3 position.  At No. 2, Baruch got on the board with Natasha Gregorio and Anna Komar’s 8-1 win over CSI’s Nancy Almazo and Justine Kuna.
It was in singles play, however, that CSI stormed ahead to get the decisive win.  Kuna scored a quick 6-, 6-0 winner to put CSI up 3-1, and shortly after, both Villarruel and Rasporskaya won identical, 6-3, 6-1, matches to clinch the win.  CSI also added wins at No. 2 (Stoyko over Naraine, 6-0, 7-5) and at No. 4 (Li over Komar, 6-2, 6-4).
The win was an impressive one for the women’s tennis team, who had never taken a match over the Bearcats since Head Coach Paul Ricciardi took over the reigns.
“They are a very fine tennis program, and although this could be a down year for them, I am really high on how we are playing right now,” the skipper said.
CSI will go back to work on Friday, when they travel to York College to take on the Cardinals in another CUNYAC test, at 4pm.Boxscore