Box Score

Manchester, N.H. -The sixth-seeded Adelphi University women's tennis team suffered a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to third-seeded University of the District of Columbia in Saturday's NCAA East Region Tournament match. The Firebirds move on to Sunday's second round match against the second-seeded host team Southern New Hampshire University, while the Panthers finish the season 17-6 overall. 

UDC jumped out to a 2-1 lead after doubles play, with Gaby Adia and Carolyn Smith keeping the Panthers in the match with an 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles. The two squads then traded blows in the first four singles matches that saw Smith and Maria Toft secure two-set victories. Toft's win at the top slot gave way to a 6-4, 6-4 win for Joanna Haich at No. 5 singles, making it a 4-4 match left to be decided by No. 3 singles.

Samra Redzematovic battled Maria Vitkina through three grueling sets and two tiebreakers, but Vitkina endured for the enduring 4-6 (10-8), 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 win. 

In Head Coach Lauren Leo's first season at the helm, the Panthers finished 17-6 overall - just one win shy of last season's win total and the second-best overall team record in the past 10 seasons. 

Results

#3 UDC 5, #6 Adelphi 4

Singles

1. Maria Toft (ADE) def. Jessica Nunez (UDC-W) 6-1, 6-4

2. Kristyna Nepivodova (UDC-W) def. Michelle Gurda (ADE) 6-0, 6-1

3. Maria Vitkina (UDC-W) def. Samra Redzematovic (ADE) 4-6 (10-8), 7-6 (7-3), 7-6

4. Maxime Duijst (UDC-W) def. Gaby Adia (ADE) 6-4, 6-4

5. Joanna Haich (ADE) def. Sofia Leon (UDC-W) 6-4, 6-4

6. Carolyn Smith (ADE) def. Tadai Abilla (UDC-W) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles

1. Jessica Nunez/Maria Vitkina (UDC-W) def. Maria Toft/Bianca Posa (ADE) 8-4

2. Kristyna Nepivodova/Maxime Duijst (UDC-W) def. Michelle Gurda/Samra Redzematovic (ADE) 8-0

3. Gaby Adia/Carolyn Smith (ADE) def. Sofia Leon/Tadai Abilla (UDC-W) 8-2