NEW YORK - The Columbia women's tennis team dropped a match to Yale Saturday in New Haven, Conn., 6-1. Sophomore Nicole Bartnik had a win for the Lions, who are now 9-10 overall, and 0-4 in the Ivy League.
The Bulldogs, who are ranked #35 in the nation in the latest ITA poll, won the doubles point by taking the Nos. 1 and 3 doubles matches. Senior Natasha Makarova and sophomore Nicole Bartnik lost at No.1, 8-1, while sophomore Katarina Kovacevic and first-year Ioana Alecsiu fell 8-0 in the No.3 spot. The first-year duo of Bianca Sanon and Tiana Takenaga had a big win in the No.2 doubles spot, as they beat Vicky Brook and Stephanie Kent, 8-5.
In singles, Columbia had a couple of tough losses in three sets and a retirement due to injury, giving Yale the win. Sanon, who was playing against Elizabeth Epstein in the No.2 spot, was down 3-1, when she had to retire due to injury. Kovacevic lost to Blair Seideman, 6-2, 6-0 in the No.2 spot, while Takenaga lost to Stevi Petrelli, 6-4, 6-2 at No.6.
First-year Ioana Alecsiu had a tough loss in the No.5 singles spot, as she fell to Annie Sullivan in three sets, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. And senior Makarova also had a close loss. After dropping the first set 7-5, Makarova rallied back to win the second set 6-1. With the team score already determined, she and Kent played a tiebreaker in lieu of a third set, with Kent coming out on top, 10-8.
Sophomore Nicole Bartnik had a win for the Lions in the No.1 singles spot, where she beat Vicky Brook in a three set battle, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Up next for the Lions is #43 Brown in Providence, Saturday, April 10 at 12 p.m.
#35 Yale 6, Columbia 1
Doubles
1. Lindsay Clark/Annie Sullivan (YALE) def. Natasha Makarova/Nicole Bartnik (COL) 8-1
2. Bianca Sanon/Tiana Takenaga (COL) def. Vicky Brook/Stephanie Kent (YALE) 8-5
3. Kim Szokol/Blair Seideman (YALE) def. Katarina Kovacevic/Ioana Alecsiu (COL) 8-0
Singles
1. Nicole Bartnik (COL) def. Vicky Brook (YALE) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
2. Elizabeth Epstein (YALE) def. Bianca Sanon (COL) 3-1, retired
3. Blair Seideman (YALE) def. Katarina Kovacevic (COL) 6-2, 6-0
4. Stephanie Kent (YALE) def. Natasha Makarova (COL) 7-5, 1-6, 10-8
5. Annie Sullivan (YALE) def. Ioana Alecsiu (COL) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
6. Stevi Petrelli (YALE) def. Tiana Takenaga (COL) 6-4, 6-2
