Women's tennis edges Seton Hall, 4-3
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Tied at 3-3 with just the No. 5 singles match to play, the Bryant University women's tennis team closed out its dual match against Seton Hall on a high note, as sophomore Stephanie Smyers (Pittsburg, Pa.) downed Maria Rodriguez to clinch a 4-3 victory.
In a match that started at 7 p.m. and lasted nearly until midnight, the Bulldogs (4-1) went bout-for-bout against the Pirates (0-4) before Smyers prevailed in a second-set tiebreaker in the last match of the night.
It was a dramatic finish for a match that started in an equally dramatic fashion, as freshman Devlin-Ann Ammendola (Massapequa, N.Y.) and classmate Rosie Bird (Hamilton, New Zealand) – making her tennis debut after spending the fall as a star on the field hockey team – secured the doubles point with a thrilling 9-8 (7-4) win in the decisive No. 3 position, handing the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead heading to singles play.
Ammendola added to her big night with a romp at the No. 3 singles spot, securing a 6-4; 6-2 victory to push the Bulldogs ahead, 2-0. But Seton Hall stormed right back to tie the match with convincing wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots.
Even at 2-2, sophomore May Vickers (Montrose, Colo.) made some key in-match adjustments against Karina Cordero to pick up an enormous 6-2; 6-2 win at the No. 4 spot that pushed the Bulldogs to the brink of victory at 3-2.
But after a strong showing from Anna Guryanova, who cruised to a 6-3; 6-3 victory at the No. 6 spot, the match was all even at 3-3. At that point, all eyes were on Smyers and Rodriguez, as the winner would determine the team that would emerge victorious.
The Pittsburgh, Pa., native capitalized in the first set to move ahead, 6-2, but Rodriguez rebounded with a strong forehand attack in the second set. Both players either held serve or broke each other throughout the frame, as the score moved to 6-6 with a tiebreaker looming. Smyers moved out ahead, 5-1, in the tiebreaker before Rodriguez closed the gap to make it 6-4. But Smyers stood strong and closed the match out with an impressive winner that split the court right down the middle, as the sophomore earned the 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory to clinch one of Bryant's biggest dual match victories in program history since moving to Division I.
Bryant will return to action in two weeks with two matches at West Point, N.Y., against host Army and an opponent yet to be determined.
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Bryant 4, Seton Hall 3
Doubles
1) Verow and Sher def. Smyers/Lucy Bird (8-5)
2) Hidalgo/Brandao def. Kilarski/Cordero (8-3)
3) Ammendola/Rosie Bird def. Guryanova/Shoemaker 9-8 (7-4)
OOF: 2,1,3
Singles:
1) Cher def. Hidalgo (6-0, 6-3)
2) Verow def. Brandao (6-0, 6-3)
3) Ammendola def Shoemaker (6-4, 6-2)
4) Vickers def Cordero (6-2, 6-2)
5) Smyers def Rodriguez (6-2, 7-6 (4))
6) Guryanova def. Lucy Bird (6-3, 6-3)
OOF: 3,1,2,4,6,5
For continuing coverage of Bryant University women's tennis, check back at www.bryantbulldogs.com; also follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.