The Case Western Reserve University women's tennis team turned in another strong performance on Sunday afternoon, as the Spartans defeated Denison University 5-4 at the Mitchell Fieldhouse in Granville, Ohio.
CWRU improved to 2-0 overall on the season with the victory, while the Big Red dropped to 1-1 on the campaign.
Denison grabbed the early in the match, with Alex Cash and Hannah Cianciola picking up an 8-5 victory over senior Madeleine Paolucci and sophomore Savannah Bright at first doubles, followed by an 8-5 victory at second doubles for Sarah Robertson and Sydney Cianciola over senior Nicole Cardwell and first-year Chloe Ku. At third doubles, sophomore Nina Hoog and first-year Pallavi Goculdas were able to pick up a key point for the Spartans, winning 8-6 over Hannah Bradvica and Kendall Schrader to make it a 2-1 score heading into singles play.
The Big Red increased the lead to 3-1 after Hannah Cianciola defeated Cardwell 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 at fourth singles. The Spartans then took the next two points, as Bright claimed a 7-6, 6-1 win over Cash at second singles and Goculdas earned a 6-3, 7-5 win over Robertson at third singles.
Paolucci won the next point to take the 4-3 lead as she battled Sydney Cianciola at first singles with a 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 victory. Senior Mira Amin then secured the Spartan victory with a 7-6, 7-5 win over Devin Gramley at sixth singles. Denison took the last point at fifth singles to make the final score 5-4.
After two weeks off from competition, Case Western Reserve will resume their spring schedule at Oberlin College on Saturday, April 10th at 9:30 a.m.
