Men’s and Women’s Tennis Fall in Quarterfinals of Northeast Conference Tournament

The men’s and women’s tennis teams competed at the NEC Championships in West Windsor, New Jersey, on April l4.

The women’s tennis team faced second-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson, while the men’s squad squared off against Saint Francis-Brooklyn, which was also a No. 2 seed.

Both Red Flash squads lost by scores of 4-0, ending their seasons.

On the women’s side, Dominique Yeo and Valeria Vinces lost 4-6 in No. 1 doubles and Bente Vandeputte and Anouk Ma-Ajong lost by the same margin at No. 3 doubles.

When their doubles match was suspended after FDU had secured the team win, Anoek Pruijmboom and Romina Cutipa were in a tight match at No. 2.

Cutipa – a senior from Peru – was satisfied with her team’s effort.

“We played well and we had good attitude,” said Cutipa. “We had some chances that we should have taken, but I did feel like we were pushing hard against strong opponents.”

In singles action, the Knights won three matches in a row. Ma-Ajong fell in No. 2 singles 3-6, 1-6, while Pruijmboom dropped her No. 3 singles match 1-6, 1-6. FDU won via retirement at No. 6.

Cutipa held a 7-5, 2-1 lead at No. 5 and Vandeputte was up 6-1, 2-5, while Yeo was down a set before these matches were suspended after FDU had clinched the win.

“I was actually playing well,” Vandeputte said. “It is the best I have played in a while. My opponent was strong, but I felt like the wind was in my favor as she struggled to deal with it in the beginning.”

On the men’s side, Saint Francis-Brooklyn earned the doubles point with victories at No. 2 and No. 3. Sebastian Pinos and Andrew Teixeira lost 4-6 in No. 2 doubles and Jordi Garcia and Christian Banti fell 0-6 at No. 3.

Saint Francis-Brooklyn also won the first three singles matches to clinch the victory. Pinos fell 3-6, 3-6 at No. 1, Teixeira fell 4-6, 2-6 at No. 4 and Daniel Vinces fell 0-6, 6-7 at No. 5.

Marc Fuste had the closest margin in the unfinished matches. He was in the third set of a 6-3, 1-6, 0-1 match when play was suspended.

“I felt like I was playing a good match,” said Fuste, a sophomore from Spain. “I was feeling comfortable with my strokes, especially my forehand.

“It was a good opponent and tough match.”