MIAMI (March 13, 2010) --- Coming down to the final match, the FIU Golden Panthers (9-6) defeated the No. 24-ranked Yale Bulldogs, 4-3, on Saturday, March 13 at the FIU Tennis Courts.
With the contest tied 3-all, Maria Jose Vallasciani downed Sarah Lederhandler (6-4, 3-6, 7-5) to give the women's tennis team its sixth home victory of the season.
FIU jumped out to a 1-0 advantage following a 3-0 sweep in doubles competition as Liset Brito and Priscilla Castillo defeated Vicky Brook and Lindsay Clark (8-1), Vallasciani and Magali Holt defeated Stephanie Kent and Jessica Rhee (8-5), and Christine Seredni and Maria Spenceley defeated Elizabeth Epstein and Stevi Petrelli (8-3).
A 6-3, 6-4 win by Brito over Kent in singles competition along with three-straight Yale victories (Rhee over Spenceley, 6-0, 7-6 [7]; Epstein over Castillo, 7-5, 6-4; Petrelli over Holt, 6-0, 6-0) gave the Bulldogs a 3-2 edge with two matches to go. Seredni tied the contest at 3-3 with a 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1 victory against Brook. Vallasciani and Lederhandler went to three sets with the Mar Del Plata, Argentina, native taking the match (6-4, 3-6, 7-5).
The win improves FIU's record versus Yale to 3-0 all-time
The Golden Panthers host No. 50 Mississippi State on Saturday, March 20. First serve is set for 11 a.m. ET.
Tennis Match Results
Yale Bulldogs vs FIU Golden Panthers
Mar 13, 2010 at Miami, Fla.
#47 FIU Golden Panthers 4, #24 Yale Bulldogs 3
Singles competition
1. #87 Brito, Liset (FIU) def. Kent, Stephanie (YALE) 6-3, 6-4
2. Seredni, Christine (FIU) def. Brook, Vicky (YALE) 2-6, 7-6 (10-4), 6-1
3. Rhee, Jessica (YALE) def. Spenceley, Maria (FIU) 6-0, 7-6 (10-7)
4. Epstein, Elizabeth (YALE) def. Castillo, Priscilla (FIU) 7-5, 6-4
5. Petrelli, Stevi (YALE) def. Holt, Magali (FIU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Vallasciani, Maria (FIU) def. Lederhandler, Sarah (YALE) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Brito, Liset/Castillo, Priscilla (FIU) def. Brook, Vicky/Clark, Lindsay (YALE) 8-1
2. Vallasciani, Maria/Holt, Magali (FIU) def. Kent, Stephanie/Rhee, Jessica (YALE) 8-5
3. Seredni, Christine/Spenceley, Maria (FIU) def. Epstein, Elizabeth/Petrelli, Stevi (YALE) 8-3
Match Notes:
Yale Bulldogs 10-4; National ranking #24
FIU Golden Panthers 9-6; National ranking #47
