The women’s tennis team faced visiting Syracuse on Friday night as they battled against their first Big East opponent in the program’s history. The Orange swept the Purple Eagles in doubles and singles to claim the match at 7-0.

At No.1 doubles, Vanja Lakic ( Waterloo, Ont.) and Shella Dargout (Rochester, N.Y.) dropped a closely contested 8-6 match against Christina Tan and Simone Kalhorn.

The No.2 doubles duo of Raquel Solis (Puebla, Mexico) and Emma Cunnington (Victoria, B.C.) also fell in a tight match against Maria Vasilyeva and Chelsea Jones by a score of 8-4.

Although the Purple Eagles were shut out, head coach Paul Calkins was extremely impressed with how the team performed against a Big East powerhouse.

“I am so proud of the girls and the fight they showed out on the courts tonight,” coach Calkins said. “Even Syracuse’s head coach complimented me on the competitive spirit of our team. Everyone was playing their heart out and battling until the last point.”

With the loss, Niagara moves to 0-4 on the season. The team looks to end that streak as they travel south to Fort Wayne, Ind. next weekend when they battle Eastern Illinois on Friday and IPFW on Saturday.  

Results

Doubles 

1. Tan/ Kalhorn (SU) def. Lakic/Dargout (NU) 8-6
2. Vasilyeva/Jones (SU) def. Solis/Cunnington (NU) 8-4
3. Spicer/ Tang (SU) def. Tiso/Roberts (NU) 8-1

Singles 

1. C. Tan (SU) def. R. Solis (NU) 6-0, 6-2
2. S. Kalhorn (SU) def. V. Lakic (NU) 6-0, 6-4
3. M. Vasilyeva (SU) def. S. Dargout (NU) 6-3, 6-0
4. A. Spicer (SU) def. E. Cunnington (NU) 6-1, 6-2
5. J. Tang (SU) def. V.Tiso (NU) 6-2, 6-1
6. C.Jones (SU) def. K.Roberts (NU) 6-2, 6-1