On Thursday, March 26, Villanova’s women’s tennis team (10-7, 1-1 Big East) earned its tenth win of the season, a 6-1 victory over Rider (2-7) at the Villanova Tennis Complex. On Sunday, March 29, the Wildcats fell, 4-3, to Temple (8-6) in Philadelphia.
Villanova opened Thursday’s match by earning the doubles point, sweeping all three doubles contests.
At No. 1, seniors Emi Callahan and Maggie Gehrig earned a 6-2 win, and juniors Lauren Monti and Jenna Stevens, at No. 2, ended with the same score. Then, junior Miriam Gondorova and sophomore Olivia Corcoran secured the sweep with a 6-1 victory.
The weather conditions for both matches were less than ideal, especially the strong wind.
“Both matches were tough because the wind really wreaked havoc,” head coach Steve Reiniger said. “It was tough on everyone. That can usually be the great equalizer. Whoever manages the wind better usually comes out on top.”
Corcoran and Gehrig, at No. 1 and No. 2 respectively, won their matches with a final score of 6-2. At No 3. Gondorova earned a 6-2, 6-1 win, while freshman Alina Kornyeva played 6-1, 6-4, to secure a win at No. 4. Last up, Monti swept 6-0, 6-0 at No. 5.
Stevens did not play in her singles match on Thursday, so each member was moved up to fill in for her absence.
“We didn’t play our number four person,” Reiniger said. “Jenna sat out. So we moved everyone up, from four and down. So we got that 6-1.”
In Thursday’s matchup, the Broncs picked up their only point at No. 6 with a three-set match.
The team hit the road on Sunday, March 29, to play against Temple. The Owls claimed the doubles point of the match, defeating all of Villanova’s doubles pairings.
In response, Villanova claimed three wins in singles. Gondorova at No. 3, defeated Temple’s Yasmin Costa with a 6-4, 6-0 win. Then, Stevens, at No. 4, won 6-3, 6-4. Monti defeated Aditi Vaidya 6-1, 6-2.
“On Thursday, Olivia Corcoran at No. 1 played really tough,” Reiniger said. “[Sunday], Miriam Gondorova played particularly well, and [also] Jenna and Lauren. The three that one in singles today, considering the conditions, was very admirable.”
Temple ultimately won the match with a three-set battle at No. 5 singles, where Temple’s Nina Andreoni defeated Kornyeva in a close contest, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5.
“We had our chance,” Reiniger said. “Alina went up 2-0, almost 3-0, and it just kind of slipped out of our grasp. So it was a tough one.”
Looking ahead to this weekend, Reiniger is hoping the team will get outside and take advantage of its brief respite.
“We’re hoping to get outside,” Reiniger said. “It looks like the weather is going to clear. With this little break, we’ll try to get a little healthier. We’re not dying, but I think we have some aches and pains. A little downtime won’t hurt them. They have off tomorrow, so they’ll be able to lick their wounds and hopefully jump back in, full strength.”
On Saturday, April 4, Villanova will host UConn. The match is set to begin at 10 a.m. at the Villanova Tennis Complex.
