Borza, Adams continue perfection in doubles play

Despite a few recent losses for the Pitt tennis team, the No. 1 doubles team of Elizabeth… Despite a few recent losses for the Pitt tennis team, the No. 1 doubles team of Elizabeth Adams and Kristy Borza remains perfect.

Tough losses to Army and Nova Southeastern last week put Pitt (8-3, 4-0 Big East) in a slump, dropping three of its last four. At the same time, though, Adams and Borza are 11-0 at the top spot. Their contribution to the doubles team has helped the Panthers win the doubles point in 10 of their 11 matches.

The two defeated Nova Southeastern’s Ulia Talalenko and Edita Kulichova, 8-6, and Army’s Niki Flach and Michael Tollerton, 8-5.

The problem for Pitt has been its struggle at singles.

Ever since the Panthers lost junior Sabrina Visram to a torn ACL, Pitt singles hasn’t been able to find its stroke. Visram started the season at No. 2 singles and never played worse than No. 3. The Panthers were 6-0 on the season with Visram in the lineup.

With Visram out, Pitt moved Christie D’Achille, Minh Evans, Adela Aprodu and Shannon Benic up one spot, giving them a higher level of competition.

Pitt coach George Dieffenbach said that with Visram in the lineup, the complexion of the match would be changed. Visram was 5-1 at singles before her injury, and bumping everyone down a spot has brought about more difficulties. No decision has been made about whether Visram will have surgery, Dieffenbach said.

Pitt lost 5-1 in singles to Nova Southeastern, Benic was the only player to win, beating Monica Vieth 7-5, 6-2 in the first match, but then the Panthers lost the last five matches. The next day, the Panthers lost 5-1 in singles when they faced Army. Adams came back to beat Flach, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

If Pitt wants to have success the rest of the year, the singles players should try to model what the doubles players have done.

The Panthers will get a chance to bounce back today when they host Youngstown State at 12:30 p.m.