This past week, the Villanova women’s tennis team took on Hampton and UConn for a Big East matchup, resulting in a 1-1 finish on the week. 

On Saturday, April 1st, Villanova fell short against the Huskies, losing, 1-4.

Emi Callahan and Maggie Gehrig started out strong, winning their doubles match, 5-4. However, the ‘Cats did not gain the doubles point, as Emma Brogan and Bella Steffen lost their doubles match, 6-2, and Valieriia Kornieva and Amanda Rivera-González also fell, 6-2, in their doubles match. 

Villanova also fell in singles as No.1 seed Brogan lost in two sets, while No. 2 Gehrig also lost in two sets in her first match back. 

Callahan walked away with Villanova’s only singles point of the match, winning, 2- 6, 6-0 and 6-4. 

“Emi started the season off playing around the number four spot,” head coach Steve Reiniger said. “She’s worked so hard and improved and it’s shown by her moving up in the rankings.”  

Callahan’s win was followed by Kornieva losing in three, going 0-6, 6-2 and 2-6.

Following the loss on Saturday, the ‘Cats traveled back to Villanova to take on Hampton at home. 

This game marked the beginning of a home game stretch, as the Wildcats won, 4-0, sweeping doubles and singles.  

“[I’m hopeful] this stretch of home games will be really good for the girls,” Reiniger said.  

In doubles, Brogan and Steffen won against Hampton’s Laura Peralta and Franzene Tsui, and Kornieva and Rivera-González won 6-2 matches, after the No.1 match with Callahan and Gerhig was not completed. 

In a similar matter, Brogan’s singles match also did not come to a finish. Gerhig earned her first win as the No. 2 seed of the season, winning, 6-3 and 6-1. 

“After being out, Magie is finally getting back to her 100%, and we really could see that in this game,” Reiginer said. 

Callahan and Diana Starodubtseva’s match did not finish, as well as Steffen and Lucia Jorrin Fernandez’s match. 

Kornieva won her match 1-0 (RT), and Caitlin Fisher finished the match with a win for Villanova in two sets, going 6-4 and 6-1.  

This upcoming week, the ‘Cats will take on Temple in a home match, which, according to Reiniger, is expected to be a “hard game.”