WHEELING, W.Va. (Feb. 28) – The California University of Pennsylvania tennis team opened its spring season on Friday afternoon by dropping a 7-0 non-conference match at West Liberty in the Indoor Tennis Center at Wheeling Park.
With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 0-5 this season in dual matches while playing their first contest since Oct. 12. Meanwhile, the Hilltoppers improve to 3-0 overall in dual play after posting a 14-9 record last season and advancing to the quarterfinals of the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Tournament.
West Liberty captured the doubles point on Friday after winning all three doubles matches. At the first position, senior
Charlie Gallagher (Kennett Square, Pa./Octorara) and sophomore
Fallon Winseck (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) fell by a 6-1 margin to Gemma Cliffe and Raissa Wagner, who are ranked No. 10 in the Atlantic Region. Sophomores
Fulvia Camargo (South Park, Pa./South Park) and
Julia McDaniel (South Park, Pa./South Park) suffered a 6-0 loss at the second doubles against Carleyah McLean and Luisa Agudelo. Freshman
Annie Miller (Mercer, Pa./Mercer) and sophomore newcomer
Megan Beam (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) also were downed by a 6-0 count by Nathalia Valencia and Alexandra Olson in the third slot.
The Hilltoppers claimed the match victory after winning all six singles matches in straight sets. Winseck fell in a 6-1, 6-3 contest in first singles to Cliffe, who was regionally-ranked at the end of the fall season. Gallagher dropped a 6-2, 6-1 match versus regionally-ranked Valencia at the second position, while McDaniel was dealt a 6-0, 6-0 loss by Wagner in the third slot. Camargo suffered a 6-0, 6-0 loss to McLean at fourth singles and Miller fell by a 6-0, 6-0 count against Agudelo in the fifth position. In her college debut, Beam dropped a 6-0, 6-0 decision versus Katie Loader in the sixth slot.
The Vulcans return to action on March 18 for their first home match of the season against Muskingum (Ohio) at the Roadman Park Tennis Complex, starting at 3:30 p.m.
