By Joyce Novacek

Writer

The women’s tennis team had a busy week of play, losing to Army at home on Saturday (0-7), and then sweeping Lafayette at home on Sunday and Lehigh on the road Tuesday afternoon, both 7-0. The Bison finished off Patriot League play with a record of 3-2, and are 9-10 overall.

The Orange and Blue put up a fight but ultimately fell to the Black Knights. In doubles play, Dara Dwojewski ’11 and Elena Vidrascu ’14 were the only Bison pair to win more than one game, but lost 8-2. In singles play, Courtney Casey ’12 and Lauren Lucido ’11 each forced their opponents into a third set, but neither was able to clench the point.

“Although we suffered a tough loss against Army, everyone on our team put out a strong effort and all the matches were close,” Casey said. “This shows us that we have the potential to win the Patriot League Tournament if we put all our nerves aside next weekend and go out there and play our hardest.”

The Bison rebounded from their loss on Saturday to sweep the Lafayette Leopards at home on Senior Day. Lucido, who was recently named Patriot League Women’s Tennis Player of the Month, did not allow a single game to her foe, defeating Allie Serranko in first singles 6-0, 6-0.

Fellow seniors Lauren Rottkamp and Dwojewski, who were honored before the match with Lucido, also won third and sixth singles, respectively.

The Bison traveled to Lehigh on Tuesday to continue their winning streak, defeating the Mountain Hawks 7-0.  Dumitrita Iepuras ’12 and Lucido took first doubles, Daria Tuzhikova ’13 and Casey won second doubles, and Dwojewski and Vidrascu took third.

The Bison also dominated singles play against Lehigh, where Lucido, Iepuras, Rottkamp, Casey and Dwojewski each won in straight sets.

Although the Lehigh competition wrapped up regular-season Patriot League for the Bison, they will compete against Georgetown and Bloomsburg before traveling to Annapolis, Md. where Navy will host the Patriot League Tournament April 22-24.