March 25, 2008

LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell women's tennis team opened a two-match week with a 7-0 win against Mount St. Mary's at home Tuesday afternoon. The Bison won their fourth consecutive match, moving to 5-5 on the season, while the Mountaineers now hold a record of 6-4 in 2008. The Orange and Blue will look to host UMBC this Saturday for its second match of the week.

On Tuesday afternoon, sophomore Tania Varela (Quito, Ecuador/Alliance Academy) led Bucknell's singles lineup, defeating Chelsea Johnson, 7-5, 6-3, at the No. 1 position to bring her season record to 3-2. Junior Paulina Gamboa (Mexico City, Mexico/Greengates School) improved to 3-5 on the season (3-3 at No. 2) with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Emily Bolchoz at No. 2. At the No. 3 position, freshman Lauren Lucido (Woodstock, Md./St. Paul's School For Girls) topped Emma Haley, 6-0, 6-3, to bring her season record to 6-4 (3-2 at No. 3).

Sophomore Carlin Calcaterra (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) picked up a win at the No. 4 position, going 6-2, 6-3, over Emily Grugan. Calcaterra is now 5-5 this spring (3-2 at No. 4). At the No. 5 position, freshman Dara Dwojewski (Chester, N.J./West Morris Mendham) improved to 4-5 on the season (3-2 at No. 5) with a win over Ashley Wentzel (6-2, 6-0). Rounding out singles play, freshman Lauren Rottkamp (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) picked up her sixth win of the season, defeating Alissa Thayer, 6-0, 6-1, at the No. 6 spot. Rottkamp is now 6-2 (5-1 at No. 6) this spring.

In doubles, Varela and Lucido moved to 4-2 on the season with an 8-4 win over Bolchoz and Haley at No. 1. Playing at the No. 2 position was Dwojewski and senior Caitlin Baffa (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills High School East). The pair topped Johnson and Grugan, 8-5, and are now 2-5 (1-2 at No. 2) this season. Rounding out doubles play was sophomore Renee Weissend (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) and sophomore Kirstyn Sotak (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Hathaway Brown) at No. 3, appearing in the doubles lineup for the first time this season. The duo went 8-3 over Wentzel and Thayer.

After Tuesday's match, Lucido continues to lead the Bison with five doubles wins this season, while Varela follows with four. In singles, Lucido and Rottkamp lead the way with six wins each, while Calcaterra follows with five.

Gamboa maintains her spot as No. 9 on Bucknell's all-time list for combined victories, now with 83 wins. She also remains No. 9 for all-time doubles victories with 42, while Baffa moved into the No. 12 position after picking up her 34th doubles win, Tuesday afternoon.

The Bison will return to action this Saturday, March 29, hosting UMBC at 12 p.m. Bucknell will make up its match at Villanova, which was cancelled due to weather this past week, on Monday, April 1. The Bison will begin Patriot League play next Tuesday, April 2, with a home match against Lehigh at 3 p.m.

DOUBLES
1. Varela/Lucido def. Bolchoz/Haley 8-4
2. Baffa/Dwojewski def. Johnson/Grugan 8-5
3. Weissend/Sotak def. Wentzel/Thayer 8-3

SINGLES
1. Varela def. Johnson 7-5, 6-3
2. Gamboa def. Bolchoz 6-2, 6-1
3. Lucido def. Haley 6-0, 6-3
4. Calcaterra def. Grugan 6-2, 6-3
5. Dwojewski def. Wentzel 6-2, 6-0
6. Rottkamp def. Thayer 6-0, 6-1