Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh begins stretch run against rival Lafayette
4/13/2009 5:15:00 PM | Women's Tennis
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh returns to the court for the first time in nine days as the Mountain Hawks kick-off the stretch run by making the short trek to Easton to face rival Lafayette Tuesday afternoon. The Mountain Hawks have played just one match since beating Colgate in their Patriot League opener on March 22, as Lehigh downed Holy Cross 7-0 on April 5 to move to 2-0 against league foes. Lehigh puts its undefeated league record on the line against Lafayette in the first of three key league matches that await the Brown and White this week.
All year long, Lehigh has been led by the bottom of its lineup, as senior Ruthie Furman owns a 7-5 record, playing mostly at No. 6 singles, and junior Stacey Reich has a 6-5 mark, playing mainly at No. 5.
Within the league, senior Ariela Cohen, junior Julie Arthofer and freshman Liz Piscitelli all own unblemished 2-0 singles records from Lehigh’s matches with Colgate and Holy Cross.
Reich and Furman also top the Mountain Hawks in doubles wins, with eight and seven respectively. Lehigh will be looking to continue its recent dominance against its arch rival, as the Mountain Hawks have won the last eight meetings in the series.
“Our women seem to be motivated and playing well,” explained Lehigh head coach Dave Shook. “This is an important match in terms of seeding for the tournament. We believe Lafayette will play well, with the match being on their home courts. It’s never easy going on the road to face them.
“You can throw out the records because they will be motivated to play well,” Shook continued. We will have to come out with the same intensity.”
The Leopards are 3-8 in the spring portion of their schedule, including an 0-4 Patriot League mark. Lafayette has lost four straight matches overall, all league contests, including a 4-3 loss to Colgate on Saturday and a 7-0 loss to Bucknell on Sunday. Caitlin Gordon led the way for the Leopards on Saturday against Colgate, with wins in both doubles and singles action.
In addition to Tuesday’s match, Lehigh will also host Bucknell on Wednesday and will travel to defending league champion Army on Sunday. Tuesday’s match between Lehigh and Lafayette gets underway at 3 p.m. from the Sullivan Courts.
