Women's Tennis Secures 13th-Straight America East Championship
April 30, 2006 | Women's Tennis
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Boston University women’s tennis team secured its 13th-straight America East Championship with a 4-0 sweep of second-seeded Binghamton on Sunday morning at the Connecticut Tennis Center. With the title, the Terriers receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, where they will make their eighth-consecutive appearance.
Junior Erin Katims (Boca Raton, Fla.) led the way for BU, winning at both second doubles and first singles en route to being named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer. The rest of the all-championship team will be announced on Monday.
In doubles play, senior captain Monica Shepherd (Austin, Texas) paired with sophomore Gina Sabatino (Waltham, Mass.) for an 8-4 victory at No. 1, before Katims and her partner, senior Laura Ahmes (Sarasota, Fla.) secured the doubles point with an 8-5 win in the No. 2 spot.
Similar to Saturday’s semifinal match, the Terriers only needed three singles wins to secure the match. With straight-set victories in first, fifth and sixth singles, the remaining singles matches did not finish, although BU led all three.
At No. 1, Katims again put up a strong performance, earning a 6-2, 6-2 win. Meanwhile, the pair of freshmen, Cori Lefkowith (Clayton, Mo.) and Danielle Abraham (Waukesha, Wis.), who had been instrumental all season, sealed the championship with 6-4, 6-2 and 6-0, 6-3 wins at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively.
The Terriers will now await the NCAA selections for their first-round match-up.
Boston University 4, Binghamton 0
April 30, 2006 at New Haven, Conn.
Doubles:
1. Shepherd/Sabatino (BU) def. Koprivica/Naegeli (Bing.), 8-4
2. Katims/Ahmes (BU) def. Umeki/Altinay (Bing.), 8-5
3. Scarangella/Kushnirovich (Bing.) led Lefkowith/Abraham (BU), 7-6 DNF*
Singles:
1. Erin Katims (BU) def. Juliana Umeki (Bing.), 6-2, 6-2
2. Gina Sabatino (BU) led Zenyep Altinay (Bing.), 6-4, 4-4 DNF*
3. Laura Ahmes (BU) led Jelena Koprivica (Bing.), 7-5, 3-4 DNF *
4. Yana Sadovskaya (BU) led Lya Kushnirovich (Bing.), 7-5, 5-4 DNF*
5. Cori Lefkowith (BU) def. Jenn Naegeli (Bing.), 6-4, 6-2
6. Danielle Abraham (BU) def. Nicole Scarangella (Bing.), 6-0, 6-3
* Did not finish due to match being decided
