• Box Score

MONROEVILLE, Pa. (Feb. 11) – After losing the doubles point for the second-straight match, the No. 13 California University of Pennsylvania tennis team rallied to win four of the six singles matches to claim a 4-3 win over Duquesne.

The Vulcans have now posted back-to-back victories over Division I programs to improve to 5-0 overall this season. Meanwhile, the Dukes drop to 1-2 this spring season.

Playing in only her second collegiate match, freshman Jutta Bornefeld (Varel, Germany) clinched the match for Cal U after posting a 6-4, 7-5 win over Rachel McGowan at fourth singles. Classmate Jade Pondicas (Johannesburg, South Africa) scored her first career victory, winning by a 6-2, 7-5 margin at the fifth position over Erin Conroy. Sophomore Anastassiya Zherdeva (Almaty, Kazakhstan) battled to a 7-5, 6-3 victory against Duquesne's Samantha Noble at the third slot, while her junior doubles partner Galina Vishnikina (Almaty, Kazakhstan/Sport Military) won 6-0, 6-4 at the sixth position versus Tara Majdalani.

Zherdeva and Vishnikina recorded an 8-7 victory at third doubles over Conroy and Majdalani.

The Vulcans return to the courts tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 12, when they travel to face No. 8 Denison, a Division III program. Last year, the Big Red won their eighth-straight conference tournament and advanced to the NCAA Division III Semifinals.