Xavier University Athletics
Saturday, January 30
CINCINNATI, OHIO
10 a.m.
Xavier University
4
vs
3
No. 55 Indiana University
Women’s Tennis Goes Down To Wire, Defeats No. 55 Indiana, 4-3.
01.30.16 | Women's Tennis
Liggins earned Xavier its final point to win the match.
CINCINNATI – Women's tennis defeated No. 55 Indiana, 4-3, Saturday morning to record their first win in program history against the Hoosiers.
Doubles play started the match with Lauren Ghidotti and Sophia Abelson beating Danielle Wolf and Paula Gutierrez, 6-3, to have the 1-0 advantage in doubles play. Shortly after, Sydney Liggins and Amina Ismail took care of business against Natalie Whalen and Kim Schmider to secure the second doubles victory and the first point for Xavier in the match.
Going into singles play, Xavier had the 1-0 advantage over Indiana. The Hoosiers quickly answered back with Wolf defeating Abelson, 7-6(4), 6-0, and Schmider defeating Ghidotti, 7-6(1), 6-2. With the two quick singles victories, Indiana then led the match, 2-1.
Cristina Di Lorenzo dropped her first set, 6-4, to Gutierrez, and rallied to win her next two, 6-3, 6-2, to give Xavier its first singles point at to tie the match, 2-2.
Alex Brinker followed Di Lorenzo by beating Stephanie Smith in the first set, 6-3, dropping the second, 6-7(2), and winning the third, 6-3. With the win by Brinker, Xavier led the match, 3-2.
Ismail was defeated by Sarah McClean, 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-2.
With the match tied at 3-3, it came down to the No. 1 singles match against Liggins and Madison Appel. Appel was able to win a close first set, 6-7(6), and Liggins answered in true Musketeer fashion by winning the second, 6-3. Coming down to set three, Liggins was able to win the tiebreak for the third set, 7-6(6), to give Xavier the victory over No. 55 Indiana.
"I am very proud of our team and how we performed today," said Liggins. "It was a true team effort. We played well and brought great energy. We hope to bring the same intensity and energy against Louisville tomorrow."
"Today was a complete team effort," said head coach Doug Matthews. "We played with a lot of heart and confidence. We were happy for about hour after the match and now we are preparing for another tough challenge in Louisville tomorrow. I cannot wait to see how we respond."
The team moved to 2-1 on the season with its next match being Sunday, Jan. 31 at 3:30 p.m. against the Louisville Cardinals.
Singles
1. Sydney Liggins (XU) def. Madison Appel (IU) 6-7(6), 6-3, 7-6(6)
2. Cristina Di Lorenzo (XU) def. Paula Gutierrez (IU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
3. Sarah McLean (IU) def. Amina Ismail (XU) 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-2
4. Alex Brinker (XU) def. Stephanie Smith (IU) 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-3
5. Kim Schmider (IU) def. Lauren Ghidotti (XU) 7-6(1), 6-2
6. Danielle Wolf (IU) def. Sophia Abelson (XU) 7-6(4), 6-0
Doubles
1. Sydney Liggins/Amina Ismail (XU) def. Natalie Whalen/Kim Schmider (IU) 6-4
2. Sarah McLean/Madison Appeal (IU) def. Cristiana Di Lorenzo/Alex Brinker (XU) 6-4
3. Lauren Ghidotti/Sophia Abelson def. Danielle Wolf/Paula Gutierrez (IU) 6-3
Final Score: Xavier 4, Indiana 3
Order of Finish: Singles (6, 5, 2, 4, 3, 1) Doubles (3,1,2)
Doubles play started the match with Lauren Ghidotti and Sophia Abelson beating Danielle Wolf and Paula Gutierrez, 6-3, to have the 1-0 advantage in doubles play. Shortly after, Sydney Liggins and Amina Ismail took care of business against Natalie Whalen and Kim Schmider to secure the second doubles victory and the first point for Xavier in the match.
Going into singles play, Xavier had the 1-0 advantage over Indiana. The Hoosiers quickly answered back with Wolf defeating Abelson, 7-6(4), 6-0, and Schmider defeating Ghidotti, 7-6(1), 6-2. With the two quick singles victories, Indiana then led the match, 2-1.
Cristina Di Lorenzo dropped her first set, 6-4, to Gutierrez, and rallied to win her next two, 6-3, 6-2, to give Xavier its first singles point at to tie the match, 2-2.
Alex Brinker followed Di Lorenzo by beating Stephanie Smith in the first set, 6-3, dropping the second, 6-7(2), and winning the third, 6-3. With the win by Brinker, Xavier led the match, 3-2.
Ismail was defeated by Sarah McClean, 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-2.
With the match tied at 3-3, it came down to the No. 1 singles match against Liggins and Madison Appel. Appel was able to win a close first set, 6-7(6), and Liggins answered in true Musketeer fashion by winning the second, 6-3. Coming down to set three, Liggins was able to win the tiebreak for the third set, 7-6(6), to give Xavier the victory over No. 55 Indiana.
"I am very proud of our team and how we performed today," said Liggins. "It was a true team effort. We played well and brought great energy. We hope to bring the same intensity and energy against Louisville tomorrow."
"Today was a complete team effort," said head coach Doug Matthews. "We played with a lot of heart and confidence. We were happy for about hour after the match and now we are preparing for another tough challenge in Louisville tomorrow. I cannot wait to see how we respond."
The team moved to 2-1 on the season with its next match being Sunday, Jan. 31 at 3:30 p.m. against the Louisville Cardinals.
Singles
1. Sydney Liggins (XU) def. Madison Appel (IU) 6-7(6), 6-3, 7-6(6)
2. Cristina Di Lorenzo (XU) def. Paula Gutierrez (IU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
3. Sarah McLean (IU) def. Amina Ismail (XU) 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-2
4. Alex Brinker (XU) def. Stephanie Smith (IU) 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-3
5. Kim Schmider (IU) def. Lauren Ghidotti (XU) 7-6(1), 6-2
6. Danielle Wolf (IU) def. Sophia Abelson (XU) 7-6(4), 6-0
Doubles
1. Sydney Liggins/Amina Ismail (XU) def. Natalie Whalen/Kim Schmider (IU) 6-4
2. Sarah McLean/Madison Appeal (IU) def. Cristiana Di Lorenzo/Alex Brinker (XU) 6-4
3. Lauren Ghidotti/Sophia Abelson def. Danielle Wolf/Paula Gutierrez (IU) 6-3
Final Score: Xavier 4, Indiana 3
Order of Finish: Singles (6, 5, 2, 4, 3, 1) Doubles (3,1,2)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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