Falcons Rally for 4-3 Win at Xavier

Sunday, January 24

Cincinnati, OH

12:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

Xavier

Senior co-captain Samantha Kintzel and the Falcons rallied for a 4-3 win over Xavier

January 24, 2010 | Women's Tennis

BGSU now 3-1 in dual-match play this season

By: FAIRFIELD, Ohio (BGSU Athletic Communications)

The Bowling Green State University tennis team, after losing the doubles point for the first time ths season, responded by winning four singles matches for a 4-3 win over Xavier University Sunday afternoon (Jan. 24). The non-conference dual match was held at the Mercy Healthplex Fairfield.

With the win, the Falcons improve to 3-1 in dual-match play this season to date, and head coach Penny Dean's team has won three consecutive duals. The Musketeers fall to 0-3, with the team's first two losses having come to nationally-ranked foes.

In doubles play, two BGSU teams -- the top-flight tandem of junior Christine Chiricosta and freshman Maddy Eccleston and the second-flight duo of senior Katia Babina and freshman Jade Johnson -- lost for the first time in four dual matches this spring. The Chiricosta/Eccleston team dropped a narrow 8-6 decision, while Babina and Johnson fell by an 8-4 count.

The Musketeers won at the third flight as well, and entered singles play with a 1-0 lead. But, the Falcons would rally.

Babina made quick work of Tifanie Treece, losing just one total game in her victory at flight number two. But, the Falcons lost the opening set at each of the other five flights, meaning that at least three of Babina's teammates needed to win back-to-back sets for the Brown and Orange to emerge victorious on this day.

And, the Falcons were equal to the task. Senior Samantha Kintzel topped Jill Ducro at the third flight, winning the final two sets by identical 6-4 scores. Eccleston, who lost her opening set by a 6-1 result at the fourth flight, defeated Kaitlyn Zinn by a 6-4 result in the second set and a 6-1 score in the third.

And, in her first-ever collegiate appearance in singles in dual-match play, sophomore Jessica Easdale found herself in the only remaining match on the court with the Falcons and Musketeers tied at 3-3. Easdale bounced back after a narrow first-set loss to pick up the match-clinching win over Kally Alkire at the sixth flight. Easdale posted a 6-2 win in the second set, and outlasted Alkire by a 6-4 count in the third to give BGSU the victory.

Easdale, who missed most of her freshman season due to injury, played in four exhibition matches during the dual-match season last spring, losing them all. This year, however, she is now 8-2 in singles play, and is now 1-0 in duals.

The Falcons return to Northwest Ohio to open the 'home' portion of the 'spring' schedule. BGSU will face IPFW at the team's indoor home, the Perrysburg Tennis Center, on Saturday (Jan. 30). First serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

BGSU 4, XAVIER 3
Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010 - Mercy Healthplex Fairfield
Singles
1 - Katie Pleiman (XU) def. Christine Chiricosta 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
2 - Katia Babina (BGSU) def. Tifanie Treece 6-0, 6-1
3 - Samantha Kintzel (BGSU) def. Jill Ducro 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
4 - Maddy Eccleston (BGSU) def. Kaitlyn Zinn 1-6, 6-4, 6-1
5 - Kelsey Kinnard (XU) def. Jade Johnson 6-4, 6-1
6 - Jessica Easdale (BGSU) def. Kally Alkire 6-7, 6-2, 6-4

Doubles
1 - Treece/Kinnard (XU) def. Chiricosta/Eccleston 8-6
2 - Alkire/Ducro (XU) def. Babina/Johnson 8-4
3 - Christie Pleiman/Katie Pleiman (XU) def. Easdale/Kintzel 8-2