Firebirds Edged out by Queens; Earns No. 2 Seed in ECC Tournament
Washington, DC-The University of the District of Columbia Firebirds went head to head with the Queens College Knights in what proved to be the toughest game of the season. The Firebirds unfortunately came up short missing the ECC Championship regular season title by one point.
The Match started off on a high note for the Firebirds as they were able to clinch victories at No.2 and No.3 doubles to lead the match 1-0 going into singles.
Sophomore Joanna Skrzypczynska won the first singles point for UDC, defeating Gabriela Sciarotta 6-0, 6-2. She was followed up by teammate Sofia Bellucco who also snatched the third point for the Firebirds defeating Ruth Artaza Martin 6-4, 6-4 and avenging an early season loss at the ITA East Regional Championships (6-1,6-2).
Queens was able to earn their first point at No.1 when Luisa Affuarth defeated Simoné Pärn 6-4, 6-3. Three-time Rookie of the week, Izabella Bilecova was leading Aleksandra Caricic 7(7)-6,3-2 but had to retire after an unfortunate injury. UDC took another loss at No.2 when Maja Makal defeated Marija Milic 6-1,6-4 to bring the match to a tie 3-3. The Tie breaker and deciding point would come from No.6. Estefania Castrillon was eventually defeated by Mana Koitabashi 7-6(4), 6-2, to give the Knights victory over the Firebirds 4-3.
UDC (10-1, 4-1 ECC) will head into the ECC Championship Tournament as the No.2 seed and are slated to face off against St. Thomas Aquinas College on October 25th at the Queens College Campus. Queens will also face off against Molloy College and times for both matches are TBA.
Today's match was also a celebration of Seniors Estefania Castrillon and Marija Milic. Castrillon is a psychology major from Bogota Colombia and has played four seasons for the Firebirds and will be playing in her third ECC Championship Tournament this weekend. Milic is a Nutrition and Dietetics major hailing from Kitchener Canada, who joined the Firebirds last year as a Junior transfer. She was named to the Second-Team All ECC last season and will be making her second appearance at the ECC Championships this weekend.