FLUSHING, N.Y. — Despite falling behind after doubles play, the Pratt Institute Women's Tennis team rebounded in emphatic fashion, winning five of six singles matches en route to a 5-2 victory on Sunday afternoon at the USTA National Tennis Center.
After dropping the doubles point, the team responded with dominant efforts in singles. Junior Pallavi Verghese (Fayetteville, Ark.) continued her strong play at the top spot with a 6-1, 6-4 victory. Junior Beatrice Crespo (Kearny, N.J.) followed at No. 2 singles, powering her way to a 6-3, 6-4 win to give the team its first lead of the afternoon.
First-year Sophia Schafler (West Palm Beach, Fla.) came through in a big way at No. 6 singles, rolling to a 6-1, 6-0 win that helped swing momentum in the singles session. First-year Olivia Tao (Ann Arbor, Mich.) put in another solid performance at No. 5 with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph, adding to the tally.
In a tight battle at No. 4 singles, junior Satoka Shibasaki (Tokyo, Japan) took the first in a tiebreaker and held off her opponent in the second, 7-6(6), 6-2, to clinch the match for her team.
In doubles, Verghese and Crespo earned the team's lone win with a convincing 6-2 result at the top spot.
Now 4-0 on the season, Pratt will look to extend its winning streak as it hosts Baruch on Sunday October 12, at the USTA National Tennis Center starting at 4:30 p.m.
