Windsor, CT…Skidmore College overcame a deficit following doubles play to come away with a 5-2 victory over The College of New Jersey women's tennis team on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The loss capped yet another successful season for the Lions as they finished the season with a 16-3 record, while the Thoroughbreds (13-8) move into the third round to face host Amherst College. Due to weather, the match was moved indoors and played at Magic Lincer Tennis Academy in Windsor, CT.
TCNJ's top pairing of seniors
Karisse Bendijo (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) and
Allison Tierney (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Gov. Livingston posted an 8-6 decision over Nataly Mendoza and Lee Ford, while sophomore
Alex Bologno (Pt. Pleasant, NJ/Pt. Pleasant Beach) and junior
Tara Criscuolo (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) outlasted their opponents in the third position, 9-8 (7-3).
The win by Bendijo and Tierney in doubles capped the careers of the best duo in program history. The two teamed up for 69 wins as a team, more than 20 than the second closest pairing.
Skidmore turned things around in singles action scoring four straight points to advance.
Skidmore College 5, The College of New Jersey 2
Singles competition
1. Nataly Mendoza (SKI) def.
Karisse Bendijo (TCNJ) 6-2, 6-4
2. Lee Ford (SKI) def.
Allison Tierney (TCNJ) 6-4, 6-1
3. Melissa Hirsch (SKI) def.
Jasmine Muniz-Cadorette (TCNJ) 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
4. Alex Smith (SKI) def.
Emma Allen (TCNJ) 6-1, 6-1
5. Robyn Baird (SKI) vs.
Alex Bologno (TCNJ) 6-3, unfinished
6. Rachel Plevinsky (SKI) vs.
Sarah Lippincott (TCNJ) 6-3, unfinished
Doubles competition
1.
Karisse Bendijo/
Allison Tierney (TCNJ) def. Nataly Mendoza/Lee Ford (SKI) 8-6
2. Alex Smith/Rachel Plevinsky (SKI) def.
Jasmine Muniz-Cadorette/
Emma Allen (TCNJ) 8-2
3.
Tara Criscuolo/
Alex Bologno (TCNJ) def. Melissa Hirsch/Yumi Karlshoej (SKI) 9-8 (7-3)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,1,2,3)
