Tennis nets big conference win

Kristy Borza better get used to breaking her own records.

Borza, a junior on the Pitt… Kristy Borza better get used to breaking her own records.

Borza, a junior on the Pitt women’s tennis team, set the Panthers’ all-time win record Saturday by notching her 127th victory, shattering Annie Davis’ record of 126 set in 2006.

She added to that record on Sunday against Syracuse, recording her 128th and 129th victories.

“She’s been great,” Pitt coach George Dieffenbach said. “We’re thrilled for her and for the team.”

Along with setting personal records, Borza helped lead Pitt to two key victories over the weekend. The Panthers pummeled St. Bonaventure, 7-0, on Saturday, and then they pulled out a close matchup at Syracuse Sunday.

Pitt won two of its three doubles matches against the Orange, with Borza and Elizabeth Adams leading the way.

Sabrina Visram and Christie D’Achille dropped their doubles match, but seniors Carlie Smith and Leah Friedman picked up the slack, winning five straight games to take their match, 8-6.

“That comeback was critical,” Dieffenbach said. “That win gave us a big advantage.”

In singles play, Pitt again had to pull out close victories.

Borza won her match in No. 1 singles, and Visram came through with a win of her own.

But Dieffenbach said it was another victory that proved to be the key for Pitt.

After losing her first set in a tiebreak, Smith pushed back to win a tiebreaker of her own. She then won the final set, 6-4, to seal the win for Pitt.

“She really came through for us and gave us a lot of senior leadership,” Dieffenbach said.

Dieffenbach said that he’s excited with the way his team has been playing.

“We’re playing some great tennis right now,” Dieffenbach said.

“This weekend was another step towards making the Big East tournament.”