Bulldogs Notch Four Wins in Singles after Dropping Doubles Point

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale women's tennis team overcame Florida International in a tough contest on Monday at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center.  Just one day removed from their participation in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship in Ithaca, N.Y., the Bulldogs managed to secure the victory in singles play after surrendering the doubles point.  It was Yale's first home match of the season. 

Despite a 6-0 win at No. 3 doubles by the Yale duo of junior Ree Ree Li and freshman Valerie Shklover, Florida International claimed the first point of the match by notching victories at the top two doubles spots. 

Florida International added to its tally at No. 2 singles, as Carlotta Orlando bested Ree Ree Li 6-2, 6-2.  This would be Florida International's last win, however, as Yale proved too strong in four of the other singles matches.  Freshman Carol Finke, playing at No. 3 singles, dismissed Nerma Caluk for the loss of only three games, while Shklover and sophomore Caroline Lynch both dropped only four games in their matches, at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively.

Though Yale had the upper hand in the overall match score (3-2), two close matches remained to be completed.  The Bulldogs stood strong though and did not let Florida International back into the match.  At No. 4 singles, sophomore Sherry Li clinched Yale's second triumph of the season by overcoming Nina Nagrode 7-6(2), 6-3.  Though the match at the No. 1 position did not finish, senior captain Hanna Yu, ranked No. 103 in the nation, had the upper hand against No. 24 Yana Koroleva after narrowly emerging from a tiebreaker with the first set in hand.    

Full results from Yale's match against Florida International can be found below.

Yale will now have a week off from competition before traveling to the Blue-Gray Invitational in Montgomery, Ala.  This event is scheduled to begin on Thursday, Feb. 19.

Report by Robert Batista '15, Yale Sports Publicity