Posted: 02/02/2012
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – In its 2012 spring season opener, the Lehigh women’s tennis team fell 7-0 to a very tough Rutgers squad Thursday afternoon inside the Lewis Tennis Center. The Scarlet Knights, out of the Big East conference, swept all three doubles matches and all six singles matches in the season opener for both teams.
Despite the loss, Lehigh head coach Dave Shook was pleased with what he saw from the young Mountain Hawk squad.
“I was pleased with the way we battled,” Shook said. “This year’s match lasted about an hour and 20 minutes longer than some of our 
recent matches against Rutgers. They’re a good scholarship program, but I’m proud of the way we were competitive out there today.”
Nine Mountain Hawks saw action in either singles or doubles on Thursday. Of those nine, one was a senior, Liz Piscitelli who played No. 2 doubles and No. 3 singles, four were sophomores and four were freshmen making their college debuts.
Rutgers captured the doubles point, dropping just two games at each of the top two flights, while posting an 8-0 victory at No. 3 doubles.
In singles play, the Scarlet Knights dropped just three games total in wins at the No. 1, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 singles flights. Freshman Abby Farrell played No. 2 singles in her college debut, and hung with Morgan Ivey, dropping a 6-4, 6-2 decision. Another freshman, Gabby Drucker dropped her first set to Satreethai Sasinin 6-1 at No. 6 singles, but was competitive in dropping the second set 6-4.
The Mountain Hawks will look to bounce back with two more home matches this weekend inside the Lewis Tennis Center. Lehigh will host Fairleigh Dickinson Saturday at 10 a.m. and Saint Francis (Pa.) Sunday at 2 p.m.
Rutgers 7, Lehigh 0
Doubles
1. Holzberg/Petrini (RU) def. Hampshire/Bilimoria (LU) 8-2
2. Ivey/Balsamo (RU) def. Farrell/Piscitelli (LU) 8-2
3. Balasa/Sasinin (RU) def. Brooks/Bruch (LU) 8-0
Singles
1. Jennifer Holzberg (RU) def. Jenai Bilimoria (LU) 6-0, 6-1
2. Morgan Ivey (RU) def. Abby Farrell (LU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Vanessa Petrini (RU) def. Liz Piscitelli (LU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Stefania Balasa (RU) def. Kathleen Larkin (LU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Lindsay Balsamo (RU) def. Jill Sloand (LU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Satreethai Sasinin (RU) def. Gabby Drucker (LU) 6-1, 6-4