St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Rutgers
Rutgers Outlasts Red Storm In Local Rivalry, 4-3
3/25/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 25, 2012
MANASQUAN, N.J. - Just two days after notching the second conference win of the season against Pittsburgh in its BIG EAST home opener, the St. John's women's tennis team returned to the courts at Rutgers on Sunday afternoon, but was defeated, 4-3, by the local rival. The contest was the second of a six-match league stretch for the Red Storm.
St. John's is now 3-10 overall and 2-2 in conference play, while the Scarlet Knights improved to 8-6 overall and leveled their league mark at 3-3.
Rutgers took the early 1-0 lead in the match by sweeping all three doubles matchups and never looked back. The Scarlet Knights followed by taking the No. 6, No. 3 and No. 4 matchups in singles play to go up 4-0 and clinch the win.
Sophomore Diamond Adams got St. John's on the board with a 7-6 (5), 7-5 win over Rutgers' Jennifer Holzberg at No. 2 singles. After dropping the opening set, junior ace Nevena Selakovic rallied to win her fourth-straight match to improve to a team-best 9-3 on the season with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory. Senior Ece Firat finished the match with her fourth-straight win after also falling behind a set. Firat rallied to beat RU's Lindsay Balsamo 4-6, 7-6 (5), 10-7 to notch her fifth singles win of the season.
The Red Storm will play its third-straight BIG EAST contest on Sunday, April 1, when it hosts another local opponent in Seton Hall at noon.
To track the St. John's women's tennis squad throughout the season, follow the team on Twitter (@STJ_Tennis) and use the #stjtennis hashtag throughout the conversation.
Rutgers 4, St. John's 3
Singles competition
1. Nevena Selakovic (STJ) def. Vanessa Petrini (RU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
2. Diamond Adams (STJ) def. Jennifer Holzberg (RU) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5
3. Morgan Ivey (RU) def. Joanna Zwirbulis (STJ) 6-4, 6-0
4. Stefania Balasa (RU) def. Nakita Austin (STJ) 6-4, 6-2
5. Ece Firat (STJ) def. Lindsay Balsamo (RU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 10-7
6. Noor Judeh (RU) def. Terri Thomas (STJ) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Jennifer Holzberg / Vanessa Petrini (RU) def. Nevena Selakovic / Nakita Austin (STJ) 8-6
2. Morgan Ivey / Lindsay Balsamo (RU) def. Ece Firat / Joanna Zwirbulis (STJ) 8-4
3. Stefania Balasa / Noor Judeh (RU) def. Diamond Adams / Terri Thomas (STJ) 8-3
Match Notes:
St. John's 3-10, 2-2 BIG EAST
Rutgers 8-6, 3-3 BIG EAST
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,3,4,2,1,5)
Players Mentioned
