RICHMOND – The UMBC women's tennis team gave red-hot Richmond a real battle on Sunday morning in chilly conditions, but the host Spiders prevailed, 4-2.
Retriever juniors Madlena Kurasz (Zlotoryja, Poland) and Shannon Cleary (Little South Bay, NSW, Australia) produced straight set singles victories, but the visitors could not pull out a pair of three-setters which would have provided the upset.
The doubles matches were tightly-contested, but UR pulled out victories at the Nos. 2 and 3 flights to record the first point.
Kurasz continued her outstanding play with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles, while Cleary lost just one additional game in her 6-3, 6-3 triumph at the No. 5 flight.
The hosts won the No. 6 match and the match was deadlocked at 2-2, with three matches remaining. UMBC lost both first sets at Nos. 2 and 4, but rallied to set each to deciding sets. Sophomore Mariami Dolashvili (Alushta, Ukraine) fell 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 2 slot, and Hanna Victorsson () went the distance, but dropped a tough 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 decision and the Spiders (11-2) posted their eighth consecutive victory.
UMBC (4-11) travels to Long Island next weekend, for matches at conference rival Stony Brook and non-league foe Hofstra.
Richmond 4, UMBC 2
Doubles
#1 Melissa Kandinata- RICH Mariami Dolashvili-UMBC (DNF)
Anna Abadias Morales Shannon Cleary
#2 Brittany Boys-RICH Charlotte Tonjann-UMBC UR, 6-3
Katya Salas Hanna Victorsson
#3 Gaby Rosales-RICH Madlena Kurasz-UMBC UR, 6-4
Emily Gitman Isabel Aldunate
Singles
#1 Anna Abadias Morales Madlena Kurasz (UMBC) 6-3, 6-2
#2 Gaby Rosales Mariami Dolashvili (RICH) 3-6,6-2,6-3
#3 Melissa Kandinata Isabel Aldunate (DNF)
#4 Brittany Boys Hanna Victorsson (RICH) 2-6, 6-2, 7-6
#5 Katya Salas Shannon Cleary (UMBC) 6-3, 6-3
#6 Kelsey Williams Charlotte Tonjann (RICH) 6-2,6-4
