Feb. 20, 2003
Philadelphia, PA -- The Old Dominion women's tennis team fell to 1-4 on the year with a 1-6 loss to the Ivy League's University of Pennsylvania over the weekend. Freshman Kerstin Endlich picked up the lone Lady Monarch point with a victory at No. 3 singles. Endlich defeated Raluca Ciulei, 6-3, 7-6 (8) for the point.
At No. 1 singles, #14 Alice Pirsu upset fifth ranked Nataly Cahana (Qiriat Bialik, Israel) in three sets, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 7-5. Freshman Maretha Van Niekerk dropped a 6-3, 6-3 decision at No. 2 singles to Nicole Ptak. Senior Julia Sotiriu (Wendelstein, Germany) lost to Sanela Kunovac, 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4 singles. The Quakers' Shelah Chao upended freshman Coralie Herrmann (Porrentruy, Switerzland), 6-4, 6-4 at No. 5 singles, while freshman Verena Munzinger fell, 6-2, 6-3 to Carolina Stanislawski at No. 6 singles.
The Lady Monarchs won at No. 1 doubles, however the Quakers took the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. The Old Dominion duo of Cahana and Van Niekerk picked up the win, 8-4 over Upenn's tandem of Ciulei and Pirsu.
The Lady Monarchs will return to action on Friday, February 21st against another Ivy League opponent in Darthmouth in Newport News, VA.
Match Summary:
Singles:
#1 #14 Alice Pirsu (Upenn) def. #5 Nataly Cahana (ODU): 6-2, 6-7 (2), 7-5#2 Nicole Ptak (Upenn) def. Maretha Van Niekerk (ODU): 6-3, 6-3#3 Kerstin Endlich (ODU) def. Raluca Ciulei (Upenn): 6-3, 7-6 (8)#4 Sanela Kunovac (Upenn) def. Julia Sotiriu (ODU): 6-0, 6-1#5 Shelah Chao (Upenn) def. Coralie Herrmann (ODU): 6-4, 6-4#6 Caroline Stanislawski (Upenn) def. Verena Munzinger (ODU): 6-2, 6-3
Doubles:#1 Nataly Cahana/Maretha Van Niekerk (ODU) def. Raluca Ciulei/Alice Pirsu (Upenn): 8-4#2 Sanela Kunovac/Shelah Chao (Upenn) def. Julia Sotiriu/Coralie Herrmann (ODU): 8-1#3 Nicole Ptak/Raluca Ciochina (Upenn) def. Kerstin Endlich/Verena Munzinger: 8-1