The College of Staten Island women’s tennis team evened at the .500 mark for the first time this season, defeating FDU-Florham on the road, 8-1, to gain their third straight win and their fourth in the last five games. CSI is now 6-6 overall, while FDU, which plays its majority of matches in the spring semester, fell to 0-2 overall.
Despite the final score, this afternoon’s non-conference affair in Florham Park was very tightly contested, as evidenced by the doubles play. At one point, every doubles frame was deadlocked at 6-6, but the Dolphins were able to push to victory in two positions.
At No. 2 Doubles, the team of Alena Vedeneeva and Demi-Jean Martorano got on the board first with a 9-7 win over FDU’s Marcie Schlanger and Michelle Berkenstock. At No. 3, CSI also scratched out a win, as the pair of Sophia Varriano and Katie Masterson won 8-6 over FDU’s sister tandem of Kim and Lindsey Martin.
Up 2-1, CSI stormed ahead for good in singles as every player took in a win. Ilona Stoyko pulled out a win at No. 1 over Kristen Lefkus, 7-5, 6-0. Vedeneeva also won at No. 2, while Jean Baak (No. 4) and Martorano (No. 5), both only surrendered two games in straight set victory. In a three-set marathon at No. 3, Varriano clawed her way to a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, win over Schlanger. Masterson topped things off with an 8-7 (7-3) win in the No. 6 spot.
CSI will resume action tomorrow, going on the road again, this time to Brooklyn College in an important CUNYAC test at 4pm.
