St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
DePaul
St. John's Drops Conference Match, 4-3, to DePaul
3/30/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
QUEENS, N.Y. - For the first time in 17 matches, the St. John's women's tennis team felt the taste of defeat on its home court as the Red Storm fell, 4-3, to DePaul on Friday at the National Tennis Center.
The Red Storm (11-5) has now dropped back-to-back matches for the first time since 2016, a span of 44 tilts between two-consecutive losses.
In the first meeting between the programs since last season's BIG EAST Championship match, the Johnnies got off to a great start in doubles play as Zofia Stanisz and Jessica Livianu claimed the opening match, 6-2, on the top court.
The Blue Demons answered with a 6-3 triumph from the No. 3 position to send the all-important doubles point down to the No. 2 court.
There, Olaya Inclan Solis and Irina Preotescu came away victorious in a thrilling, 7-6 match to give the Red Storm an early 1-0 lead.
Livianu quickly increased the advantage to 2-0 when the sophomore had the match retired in her favor in the first set.
Following the Livianu victory, DePaul answered by rattling off three-consecutive victories to take the lead and have a pair of chances to clinch the match.
Preotescu kept the Johnnies alive with a three-set victory on the No. 5 court. The senior dropped the opening set, 7-5, but rallied with a dominating 6-1 win in the second set to force a tiebreaker. In the third, Preotescu completed the comeback with a 6-3 triumph to even the score at three.
With the dual-match score level at three apiece, all eyes turned to the No. 3 spot with the conference victory on the line.
DePaul took the first set, 6-4, but Stanisz replied with a 6-2 win of her own to fittingly send the final dual to a tiebreaking set. The Blue Demons held on for a 6-3 triumph in the third set to capture the victory, 4-3.
St. John's returns to action on Apr. 6 as the Johnnies host Seton Hall at the SJU Tennis Courts for a noon start.
Players Mentioned
