Staten Island, NY - The Wagner women's tennis team opened its fall season with a 6-1 victory over Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe, the Saint Peter's University Peacocks on Saturday.
With the win, it marks the first career triumph for first-year head coach
Aida Castany while running the Seahawks' win streak over SPU to four straight matches.
"Today was a great win for us," commented Castany. "It was a team victory. I am very proud of the way the girls played."
The Seahawks took the first point of the match after taking two of three in doubles play. The combo of newcomer
Brenda Cumpa (Lima, Peru/Carmelitas/West Virginia State University) and junior
Carolyn Gibson (San Marcos, CA/IMG Academy [FL]) shutout Saint Peter's pair of Stephanie Falcon and Aidah Muhammad, 6-0.
In No. 2 doubles play, the duo of junior
Samantha Hodges (Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) and senior
Madison Pautsch (Costa Mesa, CA/Edison) earned a 6-2 triumph over Elena Puigventos and Claudia Hellman. Wagner nearly took all three doubles matches but was edged as senior
Avika Sagwal (New Delhi, India/Delhi Public High School) and freshman
Vedika Anand (New Delhi, India/The Shri Ram School) were bested by Lucia Radovic and Malieva Hedberg, 7-6 (7-3).
Sagwal was able to avenge her earlier defeat, picking up her 13th Wagner singles victory and 22nd collegiate win, blanking Puigventos in straight sets.
Last season's All-Northeast Conference (NEC) Rookie Team selection,
Rina Baynes (Johns Creek, GA/Chattahoochee) was victorious in No. 4 play, earning a 6-2 6-0 win over Hellman to put Wagner ahead 3-0 in the overall match.
Saint Peter's picked up its first win of the afternoon after Radovic defeated Hodges, 6-1; 6-1.
The clinching win for Wagner came in No. 3 action as Anand earned her first career singles win, beating Hedberg, 6-3; 6-1.
Closing out Saturday's first match of the season, Pautsch won her 20th career singles victory, prevailing over Falcon, 6-2; 6-3 in No. 5 play. In No. 6 action, Cumpa registered her first Wagner win, outlasting Christian Resurrreccion, 6-2; 6-1.
The Seahawks will be back in action on September 17 as they travel to Hempstead, NY to take on the Hofstra University Pride at 11:00 a.m.
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