CALIFORNIA (Sept. 11) – The California University of Pennsylvania tennis team opened its fall season with a 4-3 win over Fairmont State in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon at Roadman Park.
With the win, the Vulcans start the campaign with a 1-0 record and claim their first match victory since April 2017. Meanwhile, the Falcons drop to 0-2 this season after boasting 10 wins last year.
Cal U opened the afternoon by winning two of the three doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead. Starting this year, NCAA Division II programs adopted the seven-point format used at the NCAA Division I level where the team that wins at least doubles matches receives one point. At the first slot, freshmen
Jo Weisen (Bereldange, Luxembourg/Sportlycee) and
Carolin Ganahl (Grafing, Germany/Gymnasium Grafing) outlasted Trinite' Klamadji and Isadora Matos by a 7-6 margin to claim their initial collegiate doubles win. In the second position, senior
Elizabeth Wohar (California, Pa./California) and freshman
Tanya Madhok (Mumbai, India/Jamnabai Narsee) tallied a 7-6 victory against Hayley Hatfield and Katelyn Shirkey, as the Madhok earned the win in her collegiate debut. At third doubles, sophomores Gina Greer (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) and
Emilee Leydig (Windber, Pa./Windber) suffered a 6-2 loss to Ainara Pastor Garcia and Janel Kittle.
The Vulcans clinched the match victory with three wins in singles play, including two via straight sets. Weisen recorded a 6-3, 7-6 victory at the first position in her season debut over Klamadji, who is a two-time All-MEC First-Team selection. Ganahl dropped 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 against Matos at the second slot, while Madhok fell 6-4, 6-3 to Garcia at third singles. Wohar suffered a 6-1, 6-0 loss versus Hatfield at the fourth position before junior
Charlie Gallagher (Kennett Square, Pa./Octorara) secured a 6-0, 6-3 win against Edeburn at the fifth slot to earn her first singles victory. At sixth single, Leydig claim her initial singles win by a 7-6, 2-6, 6-4 count.
Cal U returns to action on Friday, Sept. 14, when it hosts West Virginia Wesleyan in non-conference play at Roadman Park, starting at 3:30 p.m.
