Depleted Firebirds Fall Short, 5-4 vs. STAC

WASHINGTON, DC – The University of the District of Columbia women's tennis team suffered a narrow, 5-4 loss to East Coast Conference foe St. Thomas Aquinas College on Thursday afternoon at UDC Tennis Courts.

Junior Paula Avellan, who normally plays No. 2 singles and doubles for the Firebirds, was unable to play due to injury, and UDC was therefore forced to forfeit its No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles matches. The Firebirds split the two doubles matches that were played and won three of the five singles matches played in the loss.

Senior Dominika Hadnadova did all she could to will the Firebirds to victory as she defeated Nyenyeri Kanefu, 6-2, 6-4 at No. 1 singles, and teamed with freshman Anastasiia Danylova for an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles.

Freshman Florence Clercx also did her best to stave off a Firebird loss as she knocked off Sara O'Brien at the No. 5 spot, 6-1, 6-4. Following Clercx and Hadnadova's singles wins, UDC still trailed in the match, 4-3.

At that point, STAC's Lovisa Engstrand clinched the Spartan victory with a 7-5, 6-3 win vs. Danylova at No. 3. Though sophomore Estefania Castrillon battled to beat Katarina Lopez, 7-6(2), 6-3 in the final completed match of the day at No. 4, it was too little too late.

UDC fell to 4-5 overall and 4-3 in league play with today's loss, while STAC improved to 7-8 overall and also 4-3 in the ECC.

The Firebirds will host non-conference foe LeMoyne College for their regular season finale at home tomorrow at 11 a.m.