WEST HAVEN, Conn. - - The University of New Haven charged back in singles play to defeat the 36th ranked Wilmington University women's tennis team, 4-3, on Friday at the UNH Tennis Courts.
The Wildcats (18-2) won the doubles point, but in the process lost one of their singles' players due to injury. Now playing shorthanded, the Wildcats couldn't overcome the shift in singles position, as New Haven won a third set tiebreaker at No. 1 singles to come back and steal a victory, 4-3.
Fenna Swaan and Larize Nel started doubles competition with a 6-1 win at No. 2. NeusRamos Moreno and Jess Purdy gave the Wildcats' the doubles point with a 6-4 win at No. 1, and then Alva Norberg and Marley Trifunovic made it a clean sweep with a 7-6 (8-6) tiebreaker victory at No. 3 doubles.
Jess Purdy was scheduled to compete at No. 1 singles, but was scratched due to injury after the doubles portion. The rest of the field slip up a spot to complete the singles competition.
The Chargers took a 3-1 lead with a default win at No. 6, a retirement at No. 2, and a win at No. 3 singles. Fenna Swaan kept the Wildcats in the contest with a 6-4 and 6-2 win at No. 5 singles and then Larize Nel earned a comeback win at No. 4 to keep the Wildcats alive, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, to tie the match, 3-3.
Down to the final match, Neus Ramos Moreno dropped the first set, 6-1, but then fought back to force a third set with a 6-4 win. In a tight third set, the Chargers' Valentinna Ferrarini was able to come away on top, needing to go to a tiebreaker to settle it, 7-4, and win the match, 4-3.
The Wildcats have one final match in the regular season, as they travel to regionally ranked No. 7 Queens (N.Y.) on Saturday. First serve is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.