Falcons Down IPFW at PTC, 6-1

Saturday, January 30

Perrysburg, OH (Perrysburg Tennis Center)

7:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

IPFW

Senior Katia Babina lost only three games in her sweep at the second singles flight

January 30, 2010 | Women's Tennis

BGSU begins home portion of dual-match schedule with win

By: PERRYSBURG, Ohio (BGSU Athletic Communications)

The Bowling Green State University tennis team began the home portion of the dual-match schedule on a successful note, with a 6-1 win over IPFW Saturday night (Jan. 30). The non-conference match was held at the Perrysburg Tennis Center.

With the win, the Falcons improve to 4-1 in dual-match play, and BGSU has a four-match win streak. The Mastodons, the preseason pick to win the Summit League title, drop to 1-3.

"This win wasn't as easy as the 6-1 score might indicate," said Falcon head coach Penny Dean. "IPFW is a good team, and we really had to battle for many of our wins tonight."

The Falcons swept the doubles point, with two BG teams improving to 4-1 in dual-match play and a third competing together for the first time this semester. The top-flight team of junior Christine Chiricosta and freshman Maddy Eccleston trailed early before rallying for an 8-4 win.

Senior Katia Babina and freshman Jade Johson won by an 8-5 outcome at the second flight. The Babina/Johnson duo, like the Chiricosta/Eccleston team, is 4-1 in dual-match action.

At the third flight, senior Samantha Kintzel teamed up with freshman Katie Grubb for the first time this 'spring' and just the second time this season, and that pairing proved to be a wise move by Dean, as the duo posted an 8-3 win.

In singles play, the Falcons won five of the six matches. Chiricosta improved to 4-1 in duals with a straight-sets win over Amy Recht, the two-time reigning Summit League Player of the Year. Chiricosta pulled out a 7-5 first set before winning the second set, 6-4.

Babina and Eccleston won by identical 6-0, 6-3 scores. Babina topped Ingrid Ballus in flight-two action, while Eccleston defeated Yuka Kobayashi, a transfer from Western Michigan, at the fourth flight.

Kintzel picked up a straight-sets victory over Raquel Vescovi at the third flight. After winning a first-set tiebreaker, the Falcon co-captain closed out the win with a 6-2 triumph in the second set.

Sophomore Jessica Easdale, playing in just her second singles match in dual play, lost her first set, 6-2, to Alexandra Forsyth, and fell behind by a 5-2 score in the second. But, Easdale rallied for a 7-5 win in that second set, then picked up a win in the third-set super tiebreaker, pulling out a 12-10 decision.

BGSU returns to the PTC on Sunday morning (Jan. 31), facing Youngstown State University in an 11:00 a.m. match.

BGSU 6, IPFW 1
Sat., Jan. 30 - Perrysburg Tennis Center
SINGLES
1 - Christine Chiricosta (BGSU) def. Amy Recht 7-5, 6-4
2 - Katia Babina (BGSU) def. Ingrid Ballus 6-0, 6-3
3 - Samantha Kintzel (BGSU) def. Raquel Vescovi 7-6 (4), 6-2
4 - Maddy Eccleston (BGSU) def. Yuka Kobayashi 6-0, 6-3
5 - Katie Brien (IPFW) def. Jade Johnson 6-4, 6-1
6 - Jessica Easdale (BGSU) def. Alexandra Forsyth 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (12-10)

DOUBLES
1 - Chiricosta/Eccleston (BGSU) def. Ballus/Recht 8-4
2 - Babina/Johnson (BGSU) def. Brien/Forsyth 8-5
3 - Kintzel/Katie Grubb (BGSU) def. Kobayashi/Alexa Rang 8-3