Results (HTML)West Long Branch, NJ – The Wagner women's tennis team kicked off a season-high six game homestand with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) member, Monmouth, on Wednesday afternoon.
With today's win, the Seahawks improve to 7-3 overall while the Hawks falter to 5-11 on the season.
Wagner opened the contest taking all three doubles matches to obtain the matches' first point. The pairing of junior
Avika Sagwal (New Delhi, India/Delhi Public High School) and senior
Marina Rull Valvieso (Barcelona, Spain/IES Antony Cumella [Tarleton State]) improved to 10-3 as a tandem while running their record to 8-2 out of the No. 1 doubles position as they defeated the combo of Adriana Armendariz and Kendal Kauffman, 6-4.
In No. 2 doubles, the team of sophomore
Samantha Hodges (Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) and freshman
Rina Baynes (Johns Creek, GA/Chattahoochee) defeated Alexandra Graff and Maria Ivanova, 6-4. Hodges and Baynes are now 9-4 overall on the year and 5-3 out of the No. 2 Flight Doubles spot.
In the final doubles match of the day, junior
Madison Pautsch (Costa Mesa, CA/Edison) and sophomore
Carolyn Gibson (Windermere, FL/IMG Academy) downed Chioma Gabriel and Grace Wills, 6-3.
Monmouth took a 2-1 edge in the match after securing victories at No. 4 and No. 2 singles action. Sagwal tied the match at 2-2 after edging out a 7-6; 6-4 victory in No. 1 singles action over Armendariz. For Sagwal, the victory improved her record to 11-2 on the season and 8-2 in dual matches.
The Hawks got a big win from Gabriel in No. 3 singles as she outlasted Hodges, 3-6; 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 in giving Monmouth a 3-2 lead. Wagner responded in the form of senior
Jenna Harris (Fountain Hills, AZ/Fountain Hills) defeated Grace Wills, 6-2; 6-1 to knot the match at 3-3.
The final match of the day came in No. 5 singles play as Pautsch was able to seal the victory for Wagner with a 6-4; 6-4 triumph over Ivanova. In the process, Pautsch picked up career singles win No. 17 while standing at 7-5 for the season (4-4 out of the No. 5 position).
Wagner will continue its homestand on Friday, April 8, as they host fellow NEC-rival, Sacred Heart. The match begins at 2:00 p.m. from the Wagner Tennis Courts.
