St. John’s Women’s Tennis Readies for Villanova

Thursday, April 8

Villanova, PA

3 p.m.

St. John's University

Villanova

St. John’s Women’s Tennis Readies for Villanova

4/7/2021 10:59:00 AM | Women's Tennis

Unbeaten Red Storm to take the court for the first time in three weeks against the Wildcats

By: Kenny Conrade

Queens, N.Y. – The St. John's women's tennis team returns to the court on Thursday afternoon when it travels to Villanova to take on the Wildcats.

The match will take place at 3 p.m. down in Villanova, Pa. as the Red Storm (4-0) looks to remain unbeaten during the 2021 season.

The last time the Johnnies took the court was back on March 19, a 6-1 win over Seton Hall. The Red Storm was scheduled to play two more BIG EAST matchups with Villanova and Connecticut to close out the month, but they were each canceled due to Covid-19 concerns within the program.

In the team's last match with Seton Hall, three-time BIG EAST Player of the Year Jessica Livianu returned to the court and did not disappoint, picking up a victory on the No. 1 court in straight sets. In addition to Livianu, Najah Dawson, Kajsa Stegrell, Emilie Haakansson and Willa Bay Breunich each picked up singles wins for the Red Storm.

The match with Seton Hall marked the team's first BIG EAST victory of 2021, as the Red Storm's other three wins came over nonconference opponents in Sacred Heart, Wagner and Fairfield. The Johnnies have picked up 26 of 28 possible team points up until this point in the season.

As for Villanova, they come into the contest with a 1-2 record on the season after having each of their last four matches canceled. The last time the Wildcats took the court was back on March 23, a 4-3 loss to local rival Temple. The match with the Red Storm marks the first home contest for Villanova this season.

A year ago, the Johnnies fell to the Wildcats, 4-3, in Queens. Livianu and Dawson each picked up singles points for St. John's, who also grabbed a point in doubles. Before last year's loss, the Red Storm had picked up six straight wins against Villanova dating back to 2014.

The Johnnies will play two more matches following the contest with Villanova, as they are slated to take on Stony Brook and Providence to close out the regular season.