Tennis Shows Dominance In Win Over Harvard

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - University of Massachusetts tennis received key efforts from veteran Minutewomen and showed poise throughout the lineup during a team victory over regionally and nationally-ranked Harvard during the final day of the Bulldog Invitational at Yale University on Sunday.

The Maroon and White took down the Crimson, the No. 48 team in the nation and No. 2 in the Northeast region on the strength of victories at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 doubles as well as singles wins from Ruth Crawford, Janja Kovacevic, Anna Napadiy and Martina Bocchi.

"It was great to see us finish a long weekend strong against the best team we faced in the tournament," head coach Juancarlos Nunez said. "We showed we were the team that wanted it more and had more energy left when it came to doubles. It was good to see the hard work we've put in during practice pay off during a match like this."

Rain in the New Haven area required an inversion of the event schedule and sent singles competitors to the courts first.

Crawford promptly set the tone for the afternoon at No. 1 singles with a 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory over Irene Lu, which Kovacevic followed up at No. 3 singles with a 7-6 (5), 6-4 triumph over Annika Ringblom. Napadiy also won 6-1, 6-4 over Jenna Moustafa at No. 5 while Bocchi took a 6-4, 4-6 (10-7) match from Anna Li at No. 6.

After the teams split the eight singles battles evenly, the Minutewomen controlled the top three doubles matches for the team victory.

Ana Yrazusta and Laura Moreno overpowered Ringblom and Lu 6-2 during No. 1 doubles play and Crawford teamed with Kovacevic for a 6-4 win in the No. 2 spot over Li and Lexi Milunovich. The Minutewomen sealed the outcome at No. 3 doubles when Napadiy and Ashley Avery downed Isabel Jasper and Moustafa 6-1.

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Players Mentioned

Ashley Avery

Martina Bocchi

Ruth Crawford

Janja Kovacevic

Laura Moreno

Anna Napadiy

Ana Yrazusta

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