DePaul University
St. John's
Women's Tennis Captures BIG EAST Opener
3/30/2018 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S TENNIS
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. - DePaul women's tennis came up big Friday in an iconic setting for tennis in this country.
The Blue Demons captured their BIG EAST Conference opener with a 4-3 victory over St. John's at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, site of the US Open.
These two programs were the top two seeds in last year's BIG EAST Women's Tennis Championship title match in Cayce, S.C. won by No. 2 seed DePaul 4-3 for its third conference title in the last four years.
On Friday, the Blue Demons (6-5, 1-0) started out in a 1-0 hole after St. John's (10-5, 1-1) claimed the doubles point.
Coach Mark Ardizzone's team lost the No. 1 singles match when Keisha Clousing had to retire after leading Jessica Livianu in the first set.
DePaul rallied as Patricia Lancranjan defeated Olaya Inclan Solis 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 singles. Aspasia Avgeri followed suit with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win over Zofia Stanisz at No. 3 and Marija Jovicic prevailed 6-4, 6-2 at No. 4 over Jaide Collins.
The Red Storm posted its third point of the match winning at No. 5 singles, but Alina Kuzmenkova defeated Kajsa Stegrell 6-4, 7-5 at No. 6 singles.
Lancranjan's win improves the senior's record to 8-2 in the dual-match season and Avgeri is now 5-3.
The Blue Demons will shoot for a BIG EAST weekend sweep with a noon match at Seton Hall on Saturday.
DePaul 4, St. John's 3
Singles
1. Jessica Livianu (SJ) vs. Keisha Clousing (DPU) 5-6, retired
2. Patricia Lancranjan (DPU) def. Olaya Inclan Solis (SJ) 6-2, 6-2
3. Aspasia Avgeri (DPU) def. Zofia Stanisz (SJ) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
4. Marija Jovicic (DPU) def. Jaide Collins (SJ) 6-4, 6-2
5. Irina Preotescu (SJ) def. Milica Tesic (DPU) 5-7, 6-1, 6-3
6. Alina Kuzmenkova (DPU) def. Kajsa Stegrell (SJ) 6-4, 7-5
Doubles
1. Livianu/Stanisz (SJ) def. Clousing/Lancranjan (DPU) 6-2
2. Inclan Solis/Preotescu (SJ) def. Avgeri/Tesic (DPU) 7-6
3. Jovicic/Kuzmenkova (DPU) def. Stegrell/Marjanovic (SJ) 6-3
Players Mentioned
