Mountain Hawks return to action vs. St. Francis, Saint Joseph's
Posted: 03/15/2012
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh will play a pair of weekend matches with the hopes of getting its second win of the season. The Mountain Hawks will play St. Francis (N.Y.) at home on Saturday before heading to Saint Joseph’s on Sunday for its first road match of the season. Saturday’s match will mark the end of a ten-match home stand for the team.
Unfortunately, Lehigh was unable to take advantage of a favorable home schedule to open the season as the Mountain Hawks have dropped eight of their first nine matches. The team’s lone win of the season came against Mt. St. Mary’s back on February 11. The Mountain Hawks fell to Albany, 6-1, in their most recent outing. Freshman Gabby Drucker secured the team’s lone point in her singles match. Even though Albany won the three doubles matches, the Mountain Hawks hung tough in all three. Freshman Abby Farrell and sophomore Kathleen Larkin nearly won their doubles match before falling, 9-7.
Drucker and Farrell have enjoyed solid starts to their Lehigh careers. Both, along with sophomore Jenai Bilimoria, are tied for the team lead in singles victories (three). Farrell is also tied for the team lead in doubles victories (two).
St. Francis (N.Y.) comes into the weekend with momentum after sweeping its last outing against Coppin State, 4-0. Lehigh won last season’s meeting between the two teams, 7-0.
Saint Joseph’s is currently on a two-match winning streak with wins coming against North Dakota and South Dakota State. The Hawks will face Xavier on the Friday before their match with Lehigh.
Lehigh’s match against St. Francis will take place inside the Lewis Tennis Center Saturday at 10 a.m. The Mountain Hawks will then travel to Philadelphia to play Saint Joseph’s, Sunday at 1 p.m.
Story by Antoine Williams ‘12