Box Score

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -  The Niagara women’s tennis team displayed an efficient performance to defeat the Siena Saints, 5-2, to record its first conference win of the season.

The Purple Eagles (4-10, 1-3 MAAC) started the match well by collecting their first doubles point in seven matches. Niagara’s No. 1 team of Hilary Hansen and Iva Celan won 8-6 and Ashley Ta and Maria Ortiz won in No. 2 doubles 9-8.

“I was proud of the way we competed today,” head coach Anthony Nguyen said.  “The doubles point was a huge shot in the arm for us. We didn’t play our best today in doubles, but 1-3 everyone battled. It came down to second doubles and Ashley and Maria hung tough and found a way to win.”

NU sprinted past Siena (4-5, 1-1 MAAC) in singles en route to snapping its six-match skid. Niagara won the first three singles matches, starting with a 6-2, 6-2 win by Ortiz over Danielle Crill in No. 4 singles. Celan topped Brittany Filip, 6-2, 6-3, in No. 3 singles and Hansen defeated Jasleen Sandhu, 7-5, 6-2. 

The Purple Eagles’ final singles win came from Ta, who was playing her first match in the two slot. Ta won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, for her sixth straight win in singles and doubles.

Niagara continues its road swing at Marist on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Niagara University 5, Siena College 2
Singles competition
1. Hansen, Hilary (NIAW) def. Sandhu, Jasleen (SIEW) 7-5, 6-2
2. Ta, Ashley (NIAW) def. Holloway, Carly (SIEW) 6-2, 6-4
3. Celan, Iva (NIAW) def. Filip, Brittany (SIEW) 6-2, 6-3
4. Ortiz, Maria (NIAW) def. Crill, Danielle (SIEW) 6-2, 6-2
5. Macaluso, Jessica (SIEW) def. Zilka, Rachel (NIAW) 6-1, 6-2
6. Benfer, Elora (SIEW) def. Sardellitti, Viki (NIAW) 8-3

Doubles competition
1. Hansen, Hilary/Celan, Iva (NIAW) def. Sandhu, Jasleen/Holloway, Carly (SIEW) 8-6
2. Ta, Ashley/Ortiz, Maria (NIAW) def. Braz, Cassandra/Macaluso, Jessica (SIEW) 9-8
3. Ross, Nicole/Filip, Brittany (SIEW) def. Sardellitti, Viki/Zilka, Rachel (NIAW) 8-5

Singles – 4, 3, 1, 5, 2, 6
Doubles – 3, 1, 2