BOXSCORE – POSTGAME INTERVIEW – The College of Staten Island women’s tennis squad opened their season today and it was a tough go for the Dolphins, as they were dropped 9-0 by the Beacons of UMass-Boston on a blustery sunny afternoon at the CSI Tennis Complex. The loss put the Dolphins to 0-1 on the young season, while the visiting Beacons advanced to 1-0.
Play started with doubles and UMass got off to a good start when the No. 3 team of Kathleen Conroy and Meghan Erickson sailed past CSI’s Guetanie Romaine and Hannah Bruschi by an 8-1 margin. Nos. 2-3 Doubles were a lot tighter, with both teams trading points and long volleys. Still, the Beacons had the better of it. In the pole position, the unit of Kristy Garcia and Katie Gauthier were able to ward off Nozima Toshpulatova and Michelle Kushnir by an 8-4 count, and shortly after, the UMass team of Kelsey Shea and Vicky Woytowicz were able to outlast the CSI duo of Tristiana Adragna and Dana Friedman, both making their CSI collegiate debuts, by a score of 8-5.
The Beacons needed only two more wins in Singles competition to take the match, and they were able to do it early and ease from there. The Dolphins did put up a good fight at many of the flights, however. Gauthier was able to strike a win at No. 3 and shortly thereafter it was Woytowicz to come off and clinch the match at No. 4. Friedman was solid at No. 5 Singles, but ultimately fell to Erickson, 6-3, 6-2. One flight lower, Bruschi gave UMass’ Shea a good fight in the second set of a 6-2, 7-5, decision.
After Garcia was able to strike out Toshpulatova at the lead position 6-4, 6-2, all eyes turned to CSI’s Kushnir and UMass’ Conroy, who were locked in a war at No. 2 Singles. Kushnir was crisp in a 6-4 opening set win, but Conroy battled back to score a 7-5 winner in set number two. The match moved to a 10-point tiebreaker. Kushnir took control, breaking a 2-2 tie and developing a 7-3 lead. Conroy stormed back, and scored six straight points to take a 9-7 lead. Kushnir rallied, scoring two straight points to even at 9-9, before Conroy scored the final two points to win 11-9.
It was the first ever meeting between the two teams in their program’s respective histories. For the Dolphins, they will be right back to action tomorrow morning, weather permitting, to take on Yeshiva University at the CSI Tennis Center, at 11am.
