FREDRICKSBURG, Va. – SUNY Geneseo junior Amanda Rosati earned a 6-3, 7-6 (2) victory at number-three singles to clinch the Knights' 5-1 victory over Elizabethtown (Pa.) in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament, Thursday.
The Knights (17-4) advance to take on Johns Hopkins (21-1) in a second-round match on Friday at 2:00 p.m. as super-regional play continues at host Mary Washington (Va.).
Geneseo got off to a quick start, sweeping all three doubles points. Rosati and sophomore Marylen Santos picked up an 8-4 victory at first doubles, while juniors Dexuan Yuan and Minxuan Yuan won at second doubles, 8-4. First-years Karli Hollins and Maggie Hale completed the sweep with an 8-2 decision at third-doubles.
Needing only two singles points to secure the victory, Santos defeated Christine Evangelista, 6-2, 6-4, at first doubles, before Rosati earned the final winning point. She opened her third singles match with a 6-3 victory over Kaitlyn Pellegrino before taking the second set, 7-6, after winning the tie break, 7-2.
The Knights were also winning in three of the four other matches when the deciding point was clinched.
Rosati improved her season singles record to 19-5, while Santos is now 21-6. The duo is also now 16-4 this season at first doubles.
With the victory, the Knights improve to 3-5 in five all-time NCAA Tournament appearances, while it marks the third time Geneseo has advanced to the second round. The Knights defeated Ohio Northern, 5-3, to open the program's first-ever NCAA showing in 2009, before also opening the 2012 national tournament with a 5-1 win over Wilkes (Pa.). The Knights are 0-2 in the second round.
Geneseo 5, Elizabethtown (Pa.) 1
Doubles
1. Marylen Santos/Amanda Rosati (G) def. Christine Evangelista/Kaitlyn Pellegrino, 8-4
2. Dexuan Yuan/Minxuan Yuan (G) def. Lauren Berry/Taylor Helsel, 8-2
3. Karli Hollins/Maggie Hale (G) def. Adriana Scotto/Madison McCall, 8-2
Singles
1. Santos (G) def. Evangelista, 6-2, 6-4
2. D. Yuan (G) vs. Scotto, 7-5, 3-4 (inc.)
3. Rosati (G) def. Pellegrino, 6-3, 7-6 (2)
4. Hollins (G) vs. Berry, 6-4, 5-7, 4-1 (inc.)
5. Sarah Calabro (E) def. Hale, 6-4, 6-2
6. M. Yuan (G) vs. McCall, 6-0, 1-6, 2-1 (inc.)
