Lehigh suffers tough 4-3 home loss to Towson on Saturday

Saturday, February 15

11:00:00 AM

Lehigh University

Towson

Lehigh suffers tough 4-3 home loss to Towson on Saturday

2/15/2014 4:52:00 PM | Women's Tennis

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – In a match that came down to a third set ten point tiebreak at the No. 6 singles flight, Towson rallied from behind to edge Lehigh 4-3 Saturday inside the Lewis Tennis Center. Lehigh senior Jill Sloand lost the first set 6-3 against Ariel Burke, but won the second 6-4. In the deciding tiebreak, Sloand held a 5-1 lead before Burke came from behind to claim nine of the final ten points to clinch the win for Towson.

The Mountain Hawks won the doubles point with two victories and also claimed the top two singles flights but fall to 1-4 with the setback.

In doubles play Lehigh's top team of senior Jenai Bilimoria and junior Abby Farrell won 8-4 over Nani Lizana and Ariel Burke. The Tigers pulled even with a win at No. 3 doubles before Lehigh clinched the doubles point at the No. 2 flight as senior Taylor Hampshire and freshman Cassidy Cruz won 8-4 over Ayana Dow and Sophie Lesage.

The teams then traded wins at the top four singles flights with Nisha Shah beating freshman Jess Graham in straight sets at No. 4 singles and Lorena Ferrer winning 7-5, 6-2 over Cruz at No. 3 singles.

Farrell prevailed 10-8 in a third set tiebreak to defeat Dow at No. 2 singles and Bilimoria defeated Lizana 6-4, 6-0 at the tip flight to give Lehigh a 3-2 lead.

Lessage pulled Towson even with a 6-1, 7-5 win over sophomore Ali Kaminetsky at No. 5 singles setting the stage for the match to be decided at No. 6 singles.

The Mountain Hawks will return to action on Sunday when they host Mount St. Mary's at 10 a.m. inside the Lewis Tennis Center.

Towson 4, Lehigh 3
Doubles
1. Bilimoria/Farrell (LU) def. N. Lizana/Burke (TU) 8-4
2. Hampshire/Cruz (LU) def. Dow/Lesage (TU) 8-4
3. Shah/Ferrer (TU) def. Graham/Kaminetsky (LU) 8-6
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles
1. Jenai Bilimoria (LU) def. Nani Lizana (TU) 6-4, 6-0
2. Abby Farrell (LU) def. Ayana Dow (TU) 6-3, 2-6, 10-8
3. Lorena Ferrer (TU) def. Cassidy Cruz (LU) 7-5, 6-2
4. Nisha Shah (TU) def. Jess Graham (LU) 6-1, 6-0
5. Sophie Lesage (TU) def. Ali Kaminetsky (LU) 6-1, 7-5
6. Ariel Burke (TU) def. Jill Sloand (LU) 6-3, 4-6, 10-6
Order of finish: 4, 2, 3, 1, 5, 6