Lehigh freshman Grace Lin serves the ball against Rider University on Sunday, March 6, 2016, at the Lewis Tennis Center. The women’s tennis team lost in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament to Bucknell University. (Zion Olojede/B&W Staff)
The Lehigh women’s tennis team ended its season Friday afternoon after losing to Bucknell University in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinals at Navy.
Despite an early win from freshman Grace Lin and junior Cassidy Cruz in doubles play, Bucknell captured the lead with wins in the next two matches, 7-5 and 7-6 (5), respectively.
Lehigh junior Jamie Campisi beat Bucknell’s Mishi Papich in a fifth flight match, 6-1, 6-1 to set the tone for singles play.
“Cassidy Cruz had a really good win at 4, I had a win at No. 5,” Campisi said. “It was good to get two single wins on the board because they swept us earlier in the year. All of the matches this weekend were hard fought.”
Cruz’s come-from-behind victory came after losses from Lehigh sophomores Christina Auyeung and Briana Maravich. Cruz beat Bucknell’s Michele Urbinati 4-6, 6-1, 7-5.
Lin went down in a 6-4, 7-5 match, and Lehigh sophomore Kirstin Godau did not finish her 3-6, 6-4, 1-1 match, as Bucknell had already locked-up its 4-2 quarterfinal victory over Lehigh.
The end of the Patriot League Tournament marks the end of Lehigh’s season, in which it finished 9-9.
Lehigh’s Auyeung finished the season with an overall individual singles record of 11-6 and a doubles record of 11-7. Campisi also finished with a doubles record of 11-7.
“We had downsized from 11 to 8 this year and did a good job of transitioning from that,” Godau said. “We got closer as a team and improved overall, especially in doubles.”
Nobody on Lehigh’s roster is graduating this year, so the team will look to incoming talent to keep improving. Godau said she hopes the team will keep a good dynamic and acclimate the new players on the team.
With the season over, Lin said Lehigh will stress keeping its energy up as a key goal for next season.
“We know that we have it in ourselves to do well and to compete hard,” Lin said. “Hopefully we will win the patriot league title next season.”
For Campisi, the team’s attitude and energy play an important role in the overall success.
“The ultimate goal is to win the Patriot League, and we believe we can do that,” she said. “We are going to keep having fun, take things as they come and make sure we have good attitude and focus next season.”
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