Mountain Hawks to host pair of matches this weekend
Posted: 02/14/2013
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh looks to get back on the winning track this weekend as the Mountain Hawks welcome Stony Brook and Mount St. Mary’s to the Lewis Tennis Center in their final matches this month. The Mountain Hawks will be off next weekend and will close out an eight-match home stand against Towson and Temple March 2-3.
Last weekend Lehigh dropped a pair of 7-0 decisions to tough squads from Rutgers and Delaware to fall to 1-4 on the spring season. Junior Jill Sloand was a bright spot for the Mountain Hawks, as she was the only Lehigh player to win a singles set last week. Sloand won the first set in her match at No. 6 against Rutgers, and took the second set in her match against Delaware. Despite strong efforts, Sloand dropped both matches in third set ten-point tiebreaks. Sloand and sophomore Abby Farrell continue to pace Lehigh with 2-3 singles records.
The Mountain Hawks have trotted out the same singles lineup in all five matches this season, with junior Jenai Bilimoria playing No. 1 singles, Farrell playing No. 2, freshman Ali Kaminetsky at No. 3, sophomores Emily Bruch and Molly Brooks at Nos. 4 and 5 respectively and Sloand at No. 6. There has also been consistency in Lehigh’s doubles teams with Bilimoria teaming with Farrell, plus Sloand and Bruch and Kaminetsky and Brooks.
Stony Brook will open its spring season at Penn on Friday before visiting the Mountain Hawks on Sunday. The Seawolves had matches against Army and Connecticut cancelled due to last weekend’s winter storm. Stony Brook won the America East Championship last year and played Stanford in the NCAA Tournament to cap a 14-7 season. The Seawolves defeated Lehigh 7-0 last season.
Mount St. Mary’s will also open its season when the Mountaineers visit on Sunday. The Mount went 11-8 last season and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NEC Tournament. Last year Lehigh defeated Mount St. Mary’s 5-2 for its first win of the season.
Action begins Saturday when Lehigh squares off with Stony Brook at 1 p.m. inside the Lewis Tennis Center. Sunday’s Lehigh-Mount St. Mary’s match is set for a 2 p.m. start.