Panthers stay unbeaten in Backyard Brawl triumph

With the overall score tied 3-3 and just one singles match left to play, Pitt sophomore Adela… With the overall score tied 3-3 and just one singles match left to play, Pitt sophomore Adela Aprodu needed a heroic win to propel the Panthers to victory against West Virginia. Aprodu came through, knocking off West Virginia’s Ashley Pilsbury 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 at No. 6 singles to keep the women’s tennis team undefeated for the season in the tennis edition of the Backyard Brawl on Wednesday. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It was a long match and Aprodu was getting cramps in her right calf muscle,’ said Pitt coach George Dieffenbach. ‘So to keep fighting, keep a lot of balls in play and hit winners past [Pilsbury] shows a lot about her.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Dieffenbach previously said that winning in doubles gives the team a lot of confidence heading into singles, but after losing the doubles point, Pitt (3-0, 2-0 Big East) came back and won four out of six singles matches to beat West Virginia (1-5, 1-1 Big East). ‘ ‘ ‘ Aprodu triumphed after losing her doubles match with junior Shannon Benic 8-9 (5) to Olga Elkin and Veronica Cardenas at No. 3 doubles. Elkin and Cardenas are now 6-0 at that spot for the Mountaineers. ‘ ‘ ‘ Another impressive win for the Panthers was at No. 2 singles, where junior Sabrina Visram fought back to beat Stephanie LaFortune 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-1. Visram was down in the second-set tiebreak 6-3 and saved three match points before winning six of the next seven points. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘[Visram] really stepped up for us by keeping a lot of balls in play and forced errors to stay alive,’ said Dieffenbach. ‘[LaFortune] fought hard, but it was just a great comeback for her.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Sophomore Elizabeth Adams and senior Kristy Borza also had successful efforts for Pitt. They were the only doubles team to win for the Panthers as they prevailed against Pilsbury and Gabriela Blaskovicova 8-5 at No. 1 doubles. At No. 1 singles, Adams beat Elkin 6-4, 6-4. Borza defeated Milica Pantovic 6-2, 6-4 in No. 3 singles. Adams has won all six of her matches this season, earning her the Big East Women’s Tennis Player of the Week award. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Playing No. 1 is no easy assignment, she faces tough opponents every time she plays,’ said Dieffenbach. ‘She is really stepping up and coming through for the Panthers.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt is now 4-27 all-time against West Virginia, but has won the last three contests. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘West Virginia has always had a lot of talent on their team and it’s great to finally catch up to a school like that,’ said Dieffenbach. ‘The two schools have always made a great rivalry though, and my team always looks forward to this intense match every year.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Up next for the Panthers is Seton Hall (1-1) at the Oxford Athletic Club, Friday at 6 p.m.