HOUGHTON, NY - The Utica University women's tennis team battled Houghton University on Saturday afternoon, earning two individual wins in a 5-2 setback at the Kerr-Pegula Field House. The Pioneers competed throughout the afternoon, highlighted by a thrilling three-set victory from Alexis Brennan (Vernon, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) at No. 5 singles and a big win for Saige Burton (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) at No. 6 singles.
Houghton opened the match by taking all three doubles contests. Lyndsey Tiedemann (Salt Point, NY/Franklin D. Roosevelt) and Hannah Loebbaka (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) put together Utica's closest doubles performance at No. 1, falling 6-4 to Sage Brinckerhoff and Zoe Zachery. Saige Burton (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) and Hannah Slater (Schenectady, NY/Colonie Central) also battled at No. 3 doubles before dropping a 6-3 decision, while Eh Nay Than (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) and Andrea May (McGraw, NY/McGraw) fell 6-0 at No. 2.
The Pioneers responded with a pair of singles victories. Brennan delivered Utica's first point at No. 5 singles in an exciting three-set battle with Prashansa Chakrapani. After dropping the opening set 6-4, Brennan bounced back to take the second set 6-4 before completing the comeback with a 10-4 victory in the deciding super tiebreaker.
Saige Burton (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) added Utica's second point at No. 6 singles, dominating the opening set against Jessica Fornah, 6-0. Burton followed with a 6-4 second-set victory to secure the straight-set win.
Utica also saw competitive efforts throughout the remainder of its singles lineup. Hannah Loebbaka (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) earned four total games at No. 3 singles, while Tiedemann and Eh Nay Than (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) each picked up three games in their respective second sets. Andrea May (McGraw, NY/McGraw) also battled at No. 4 singles against Abigail Lloyd.
The Pioneers will look ahead to Tuesday's match where they welcome Russell Sage to Utica. That contest will open the final week of the regular season for the team.
