PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - Andrea Ribalta battled back from a set down to win in singles, giving the Wilmington University women's tennis team it's lone point in a 6-1 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference loss on the road at Jefferson on Saturday.
The Wildcats (2-5, 2-2 CACC) won matches at No. 2 doubles and No. 2 singles, but the Rams (4-4, 2-3 CACC) earned the doubles point with a win at No. 1 and No. 3, and three singles victories.
Andrea Ribalta and Mallory Nolte gave the wildcats a shot for the doubles point with a tiebreaker victory at No. 2, 7-6, but the Rams took the point with a win at No. 1 doubles, 6-3. Ribalta and Nolte won the match with an 8-6 tiebreaker.
Laura Gil tried to force the match at No. 1 single into the third set tiebreaker, but Chang Wei was able to hold off Gil for the win, 6-2 and 7-6 (11-9). Ribalta continued her great start to the season with a win at No. 2 singles, coming back after losing the first set. Ines Blanc took the first set, 7-6 (7-2), but then Ribalta battled back to win the second set, 6-2. The third set tiebreaker went into extra points as well, but Ribalta was able to claim the victory, 13-11.
Ribalta moves to 6-1 on the year in singles play with the win, staying perfect at No. 2 singles with a 4-0 record. She is also perfect in CACC play, going 5-0 overall so far.
They Wildcats have a tough stretch in the schedule this week, as they host CACC favorites Goldey-Beacom and Concordia at the Delcastle Tennis Center this week. First up, the Lightning on Wednesday afternoon with a 3:00 p.m. first serve.