WILMINGTON, Del. - - Four singles matches needed to be decided in a third set, but the Wilmington University women's tennis team came out on top in its 2024 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference debut, 5-2, over crosstown rival Goldey-Beacom at the Delcastle Tennis Center on Tuesday afternoon.
The Wildcats' lineup featured four new faces from a season ago but they were able to get off on the right foot in CACC play, their first dual match of the season.
The scoring started with doubles play, as the two returners teamed up to get the Wildcats going. Kushi Khandoji and Gloria Barcaro won at No. 3 doubles, 6-1, and then newcomers Siana MacDonald and Molly Carlberg earned the point with a 6-4 win at No. 1.
Lyza Sylka made short work of her opponent at No. 4 singles, 6-1 and 6-2, to make it 2-0, and then Kushi Khandoji brought the Wildcats to within a point of the match with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 3 singles.
But the Lightning (2-1, 0-1 CACC) never quit, making the match interesting with the four remaining singles matches. Goldey-Beacom won at No. 1 singles after coming back from a 1-0 hole.
Singles matches at No. 2, No. 5 and No. 6 were all into the third set, but Molly Carlberg was the first to finish, clinching the match with a comeback victory, 5-7, 6-4 and 6-3, at No. 2 singles. Goldey-Beacom's Sofia Lopez came back from a set down to win in a third set tiebreaker at No. 5 singles while Gloria Barcaro was doing the same at No. 6 singles for the Wildcats. The third set tiebreak was back and forth until Barcaro won three straight points to turn match point, 6-7, into a 9-7 victory, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (9-7).
The Wildcats have two more CACC matches this week, starting with another home game on Thursday. They welcome Chestnut Hill to the Delcastle Tennis Center for a 2:00 p.m. first serve.
