UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's tennis team battled back from an early deficit on Tuesday afternoon to earn a thrilling 4-3 victory over Empire 8 competitor Russell Sage.
The Pioneers found themselves trailing 2-1 after doubles play, despite Hannah Loebbaka (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) and Andrea May (McGraw, NY/McGraw) providing Utica's lone doubles point at No. 2. The duo battled Alexa Cupernall and Katie Snell before securing a 6-3 victory. Lyndsey Tiedemann (Salt Point, NY/Franklin D. Roosevelt) and Averi Kraeger (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) fell 6-1 at No. 1 doubles, while Hannah Slater (Schenectady, NY/Colonie Central) and Eh Nay Than (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) dropped a 6-2 decision at No. 3.
Even without the doubles point, the Pioneers responded in a big way during singles play, winning four of the six matches to complete the comeback. Tiedemann got the Pioneers on the board with a dominant 6-3, 6-3 victory over Annabella Putnam at No. 1 singles. Loebbaka followed with a straight-set win of her own at No. 3, defeating Maddie Curley 6-2, 6-4.
Alexis Brennan (Vernon, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) added another crucial point at No. 4 singles, taking down Katie Snell 6-3, 6-2. With the match hanging in the balance, Andrea May (McGraw, NY/McGraw) delivered the deciding point at No. 5 singles in a thrilling three-set battle. After falling 7-5 in the opening set, May rallied to take the second set 6-2 before completing the comeback with a 7-5 victory in the third set.
The Pioneers also saw strong efforts from Averi Kraeger (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Saige Burton (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) in the remaining singles matches. Kraeger battled Brynn Weaver at No. 2, while Burton went three sets against Mackenzie Clogston at No. 6.
The team will look to take the momentum from the massive win and head into the weekend with some energy as they take on SUNY Brockport and Nazareth to wrap up the regular season.Â
