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.