Saturday, March 18
Bethlehem, Pa.
10:00 AM
Lehigh University
4
vs
3
Loyola (Md.)
Lehigh Rallies For 4-3 Win Over Loyola in Patriot League Opener
3/18/2023 4:02:00 PM | Women's Tennis
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women's tennis team battled back from a 3-1 deficit to win its Patriot League opener 4-3 Saturday over Loyola inside the Lewis Tennis Center. The Mountain Hawks dropped the doubles point and two of the first three singles matches, but stormed back to win the last three singles matches, including three set wins at No. 2 and No. 5.
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Junior Anushka Dania won the clinching match at No. 5 singles and teamed with her sister Megha for Lehigh's lone doubles win. Megha Dania also won her singles match as part of Lehigh's comeback.
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The win is Lehigh's second straight and moves the Mountain Hawks to 4-5 on the season.
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Loyola (4-8, 0-2 PL) won the doubles point, which came down to No. 3 flight where Olivia Tracey and Liza Tamkimovich edged sophomore Hamsa Javagal and first-year Bella Peters 7-5. Anushka and Megha Dania won 6-2 over Jessica Bodewes and Emi Shiykumar at the top flight.
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Javagal defeated Tracey in three sets at No. 1 singles to tie the match at 1-1. She dropped the second set but lost just one game in winning the first and third sets.
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Straight-set wins at the No. 3 and 4 flights put the Greyhounds up 3-1. Megha Dania edged Lauren Manwiller 7-6 in the third set to secure a win at No. 2 and then Peters defeated Tamkimovich in straight sets at No. 6 to even the match at 3-3.
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Anushka Dania dropped her first set against Shivkumar at No. 5 4-6, but won the next two 6-4 and 6-1 to secure the victory and the match for Lehigh.
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The Mountain Hawks will play two league matches next weekend as Lehigh will host Navy Saturday at 10 a.m. before traveling to Colgate Sunday for a 1 p.m. match.
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Lehigh 4, Loyola 3
Doubles
1. A. Dania/M. Dania (Lehigh) def. Bodewes/Shivkumar (Loyola) 6-2
2. Manwiller/Richiez (Loyola) def. Gaborik/James (Lehigh) 6-2
3. Tracey/Tankimovich (Loyola) def. Javagal/Peters (Lehigh) 7-5
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3
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Singles
1. Hamsa Javagal (Lehigh) def. Olivia Tracey (Loyola) 6-0, 2-6, 6-1
2. Megha Dania (Lehigh) def. Lauren Manwiller (Loyola) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6
3. Jessica Bodewes (Loyola) def. Allyce Gaborik (Lehigh) 6-4, 6-0
4. Christine Richiez (Loyola) def. Junmoke James (Lehigh) 7-6, 6-3
5. Anushka Dania (Lehigh) def. Emi Shivkumar (Loyola) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
6. Bella Peters (Lehigh) def. Liza Tankimovich (Loyola) 7-5, 7-6
Order of finish: 1, 3, 4, 2, 6, 5
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Junior Anushka Dania won the clinching match at No. 5 singles and teamed with her sister Megha for Lehigh's lone doubles win. Megha Dania also won her singles match as part of Lehigh's comeback.
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The win is Lehigh's second straight and moves the Mountain Hawks to 4-5 on the season.
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Loyola (4-8, 0-2 PL) won the doubles point, which came down to No. 3 flight where Olivia Tracey and Liza Tamkimovich edged sophomore Hamsa Javagal and first-year Bella Peters 7-5. Anushka and Megha Dania won 6-2 over Jessica Bodewes and Emi Shiykumar at the top flight.
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Javagal defeated Tracey in three sets at No. 1 singles to tie the match at 1-1. She dropped the second set but lost just one game in winning the first and third sets.
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Straight-set wins at the No. 3 and 4 flights put the Greyhounds up 3-1. Megha Dania edged Lauren Manwiller 7-6 in the third set to secure a win at No. 2 and then Peters defeated Tamkimovich in straight sets at No. 6 to even the match at 3-3.
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Anushka Dania dropped her first set against Shivkumar at No. 5 4-6, but won the next two 6-4 and 6-1 to secure the victory and the match for Lehigh.
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The Mountain Hawks will play two league matches next weekend as Lehigh will host Navy Saturday at 10 a.m. before traveling to Colgate Sunday for a 1 p.m. match.
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Lehigh 4, Loyola 3
Doubles
1. A. Dania/M. Dania (Lehigh) def. Bodewes/Shivkumar (Loyola) 6-2
2. Manwiller/Richiez (Loyola) def. Gaborik/James (Lehigh) 6-2
3. Tracey/Tankimovich (Loyola) def. Javagal/Peters (Lehigh) 7-5
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3
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Singles
1. Hamsa Javagal (Lehigh) def. Olivia Tracey (Loyola) 6-0, 2-6, 6-1
2. Megha Dania (Lehigh) def. Lauren Manwiller (Loyola) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6
3. Jessica Bodewes (Loyola) def. Allyce Gaborik (Lehigh) 6-4, 6-0
4. Christine Richiez (Loyola) def. Junmoke James (Lehigh) 7-6, 6-3
5. Anushka Dania (Lehigh) def. Emi Shivkumar (Loyola) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
6. Bella Peters (Lehigh) def. Liza Tankimovich (Loyola) 7-5, 7-6
Order of finish: 1, 3, 4, 2, 6, 5
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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