Lehigh University Athletics
Rivals to clash Tuesday on the tennis court
4/5/2010 4:15:00 PM | Women's Tennis
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women’s tennis team is gearing up for the stretch run, with the Patriot League tournament now just 11 days away. On Tuesday the Mountain Hawks will kick-off a critical week of action with their annual rivalry matchup with Lafayette on the Ulrich Varsity Courts. Lehigh has lost three straight matches to drop to 2-11 overall, but the Mountain Hawks can improve their record and their position for the tournament with a strong showing against the rival Leopards.
Over the weekend, Lehigh suffered a 6-1 loss at Patriot League women’s tennis newcomer Navy and a 7-0 shutout at the hands of George Mason.
“We lost to two very good teams,” said Lehigh head coach Dave Shook. “I’m not surprised Navy was able to get good so quickly with the type of student-athletes they can bring in. George Mason is a strong scholarship program. We were hoping to do a little better over the weekend, but now it’s back to working hard and getting ready for Lafayette.”
Lehigh will look to continue its dominance against its rival in women’s tennis. The Mountain Hawks have won eight straight in the series including a 4-0 win in the opening round of last year’s Patriot League tournament.
This season has been somewhat of a struggle for the Mountain Hawks whose wins have come against Marist and Holy Cross. Freshman Patricia Muething leads Lehigh with a 4-9 singles record while seniors Julie Arthofer and Stacey Reich each have three wins. Sophomore Izzy Breit won at No. 6 singles against Navy for the Mountain Hawks’ only point of the weekend. In doubles action no Mountain Hawk has more than three wins.
Lafayette enters Tuesday’s match at 2-6 this spring and 0-4 against league foes. The Leopards have lost their last six straight matches including a 7-0 setback at Navy on Saturday.
“We can win tomorrow,” said Shook. “If we’re going to win, we’re going to have to do it the old fashioned way, through hard work. We need this match if we want to get a good position for the Patriot League tournament, so we need to work hard at practice and come ready to rock and roll on Tuesday.”
In addition to Tuesday’s match against Lafayette, Lehigh will close out the regular season with matches at Bucknell on Thursday, at home against Colgate on Saturday and at home against Fordham on Sunday.
Tuesday’s rivalry matchup is set for a 3 p.m. start from Lehigh’s Ulrich Varsity Courts.
