No. 1 doubles loses for first time as Pitt falls to Duquesne

It was a disappointing day for the Pitt tennis team, as it fell to Duquesne 5-2 on Wednesday…. It was a disappointing day for the Pitt tennis team, as it fell to Duquesne 5-2 on Wednesday. Despite previous success, the Panthers’ doubles team struggled against the Dukes.

Senior Kristy Borza and sophomore Elizabeth Adams saw their undefeated season come to an end at No. 1 doubles, losing 8-3 to Duquesne’s Zena Williams and Rachel McGowan.

Senior Christie D’Achille and Junior Shannon Benic, who were previously 7-0 together, fell to Tara Majdalani and Stephanie Novakowski 8-4 at No. 3 doubles.

Duquesne completed the sweep in the next match, as the Dukes’ Rebecca Poole and Samantha Noble defeated junior Adela Aprodu and freshman Minh Evans 8-2 at No. 2 doubles.

It was just the second time all season that the Panthers lost the doubles point. And Duquesne, which had won 13 of 18 doubles points this season, made it hard for Pitt (10-5, 5-1 Big East).

Losing the doubles point meant that the Panthers needed to win the majority of the singles matches in order to beat their cross-town rivals.

Although Pitt had some success in singles, it couldn’t make the comeback.

Adams defeated McGowan 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles, and Aprodu beat Alexandria Albano 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5 singles.

But at No. 1 singles, Williams beat Borza 6-3, 6-1 ‘- avenging her loss to Borza last year.

Duquesne, which finished its season 7-11, has taken three of the last four matches against Pitt.

The Panthers will try to end their two-game skid this weekend when they travel to Morgantown, W.Va., to play Connecticut and Rutgers.

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