Xavier University Athletics
Friday, February 8
Villanova, Pa.
11 AM
Xavier University
at
Villanova
Women's Tennis Travels to Villanova for First Conference Match of Season
02.06.19 | Women's Tennis
CINCINNATI – Xavier women's tennis moves along in its spring 2019 action on Friday, February 8, when the Musketeers travel to Villanova University to face the Wildcats in their first BIG EAST Conference match of the season. The contest is set to begin at 11:00 a.m.
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THE OPPONENT: VILLANOVA |
- Villanova will be Xavier's first BIG EAST opponent of the spring season.
- The Wildcats had an 11-10 record last season and finished conference play .500 on the year.
- Xavier defeated Villanova last season, 5-2, following five singles victories and one doubles win for the Musketeers.
- Villanova is 1-1 so far this season, defeating Colgate on Feb. 2 and falling to Navy one day later on Feb. 3.
- Friday will be the first home match of the season for Villanova.
- Head coach Steve Reiniger is in his 21st season at Villanova and is also an assistant on the men's tennis squad for the Wildcats.
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UP NEXT |
- The Musketeers head to Washington, D.C. on Sunday, Feb. 10 to face BIG EAST foe Georgetown at 9:00 a.m.
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LAST TIME OUT: MICHIGAN STATE |
- Xavier fell to Michigan State last Friday, 5-2, in East Lansing, suffering their second loss of the season.
- Michigan State took the doubles point, winning the No. 2 spot, 6-2, over Sophia Abelson and Kaitlin Ruether. The Spartans then secured the point in the No. 1 spot, defeating Emily Thomas and Ahmeir Kyle, 6-2. In the No. 3 spot, Rachel Reichenbach and Hunter Roper trailed, 5-2, when the doubles point was decided.
- In singles play, Michigan State's lead went to 2-0 following a two-set win, 6-1, 6-2, over Kaitlin Ruether in the No. 6 spot. The Spartans extended their lead with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Hunter Roper in the No. 5 spot.
- Emily Thomas grabbed a point for the Musketeers, defeating MSU in the No. 3 spot, 6-2, 6-3, making the score 3-1.
- MSU grabbed the deciding fourth point in the No. 2 spot, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3), over Sophia Abelson.
- In the No. 1 spot, Ahmeir Kyle came back to win back-to-back sets after falling in the first set, finishing with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win to move the score to 4-2 before Xavier fell in the No. 4 spot to set the final score at 5-2.
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KYLE CLAIMS WEEKLY AWARD |
- After the opening weekend of dual play, Xavier women's tennis sophomore Ahmeir Kyle was named the BIG EAST Tennis Female Athlete of the Week. Kyle went 3-1 in Xavier's opening weekend where the Musketeers split with Iowa and North Texas.
- To open the session against Iowa, Kyle and partner Emily Thomas took the 6-3 win in the No. 2 doubles. In singles play, Kyle won the opening set in the No. 1 spot, 6-4, before falling in the final two sets in what would be a 7-0 loss for the Musketeers.
- Against North Texas, Kyle, again partnered with Thomas in the No. 2 spot, won the set, 6-4, evening the score after Xavier fell in the No. 1 spot. The Musketeers would claim the No. 3 spot to take the doubles point.
- In singles play, Kyle quickly put the Musketeers ahead 2-0, taking the No. 1 spot in two sets, 6-4, 7-5, for the first result in singles play. Xavier went on to win the match, 5-2.
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THE MUSKETEERS |
- Xavier's roster is deep and balanced, featuring a number of upperclassmen, including a pair of seniors, Sophia Abelson and Zoe Manion, and a pair of juniors, Lauren Fitz-Randolph and Rachael Reichenbach.
- The Musketeers also return a pair of talented sophomores who made an immediate impact during their freshman seasons, Ahmeir Kyle and Kaitlin Ruether.
- Head coach Doug Matthews also added a four-person freshman class, Anna Letto, Natalie Moyer, Hunter Roper and Emily Thomas.
- Xavier is 2-2 so far this season.
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FALL HIGHLIGHTS |
- Xavier women's tennis opened up fall play at the Greater Cincinnati Invitational held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Returnees Lauren Fitz-Randolph and Kaitlin Ruether were joined by newcomers Anna Letto and Natalie Moyer for three rounds of singles and doubles play. Xavier's women collected 11 wins, with each of its four competitors going 2-1 in singles play, plus three doubles wins.
- At the Purdue Invite, Xavier women's tennis collected four flight championships, including three singles flights and the Gold Doubles Draw championships. Kaitlin Ruether posted a 7-0 mark on the weekend, winning both her singles and doubles flights.
- At the ITA Ohio Valley Regional, Xavier women's tennis collected 20 singles wins, the B-Flight Championship and an appearance in the quarterfinals of the main draw. Lauren Fitz-Randolph collected five of those wins on her way to winning the B-Flight, beating competitors from IUPUI, Tennessee, Memphis and Miami in two sets each on her way to the championship match of the 64- competitor bracket.
- A the UC Tennis Pam Whitehead Invitational, Xavier women's tennis came away with the top two doubles finishes and a pair of team wins in the hidden dual format. Xavier fell to host Cincinnati, and picked up team wins over Chattanooga and Illinois Chicago. Xavier went 9-2 in doubles play and 11-9 in singles play.
Players Mentioned
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