Men's tennis continues winning streak, women's team falls close to UConn

Villanova men's tennis went undefeated in three matches this weekend against Marquette (4-3), Coppin State (7-0) and Lafayette (4-0).

The women's team lost a close game against the University of Connecticut on Sunday, April 7, after the previous two games against Johns Hopkins and Drexel were canceled.

On Friday, April 5, the men opened their home series against Marquette.

The match got off to a smooth start for the Wildcats as they won their first two doubles matches to secure the doubles point.

When singles play resumed, the Golden Eagles quickly evened the score, winning three of the first four singles matches to make it 3-2.

The Big East match came down to the final two games as senior Ryan Nguyen won his match to secure a 6-4, 6-1 tie. The final result of the match was decided by freshman Justin Frattarelli, whose singles ended in a tie in the second set. Frattarelli won the third and final set to give the Wildcats the win.

The other home game of the weekend was a wash as Villanova won all seven games against Coppin State.

The final home game of the weekend was played on Sunday, April 7 against Lafayette. In doubles, the freshman duo of Will Monahan and Frattarelli dropped the first match 6–3, 5–2. Villanova bounced back with wins from senior Josh Robinson and sophomore Cooper Gordon before winning its final doubles match played by seniors Eitan Khromchenko and Noah Winton.

In singles, Gordon defeated Lafayette's Derrin Lerner 6-4, 6-0 and Nguyen defeated Lafayette's William Woolley 6-0, 6-1. Frattarelli secured the game-winning point again in his match against Sam Gelber of Lafayette, 6–1, 6–2.

The men's team wraps up its regular season with Big East games at St. Joseph's on Wednesday, April 10 and at Georgetown on Saturday, April 13 before traveling to play George Mason on Sunday, April 14.

On Sunday, April 7, the women's team hosted UConn, losing a close game 3-4.

In doubles, graduates Ami Grace Dougah and freshman Miriam Gondorova lost one spot, as did sophomores Emi Callahan and Maggie Gehrig. The third and final doubles match, played by freshman Jenna Stevens and senior Bella Steffen, did not end, and UConn took the doubles point.

Dougah opened singles play at one spot and defeated UConn's Wright in three sets, winning the first and final matches 6-4. Gehrig dropped his match, losing 6-2, 6-1 to UConn's Constantinou. Gondorova defeated UConn's Petri Bere at third to prevent the match from being taken away from the Wildcats. In fourth place, Stevens won by defeating UConn's Hinshaw. Freshman Lauren Monti lost in straight sets 6–1, 6–1 to UConn's Didion, and in the finals, junior Valieriia Kornieva fell to UConn's Asenov.

"I think having a little break in our schedule with the two cancellations helped us compete healthy," women's head coach Steve Reiniger said. - We lost four-three, and it really came down to doubles. I had a feeling that whoever won the double point would win the match. Both teams are so close."

Reiniger added that Villanova's lineup against UConn was its strongest.

"We're missing one of our best players for next week's games," Reiniger said. "Georgetown will be a tough matchup, but if we can beat Seton Hall and St. John's, we can get the No. 5 seed in the Big East and avoid a playoff spot."

In the Big East Tournament, a seed of six or lower must play an extra game to advance.

The women's team will host Seton Hall on Tuesday, April 9 and travel to Georgetown on Friday, April 12 before closing out their regular season with a home game against St. John's on Sunday, April 14.