Box Score (PDF)
 
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's tennis team got its spring season underway on Sunday when it hit the road to face perennial regional power No. 37 University of Rochester at the Goergen Athletic Center. The Bombers battled hard against the Yellowjackets talented outfit, but ultimately came up short in 7-2 decision that kicked off the dual match portion of the team's schedule.

"I'm proud of how the team competed today," head coach Bill Austin said. "We held our own against one of the region's best programs and showed some great tenacity. Although our ultimate goal of a victory was not achieved we will look to continue to build off this match moving forward."
 
#37 University of Rochester 7 – Ithaca College 2
Doubles
1. Camila Garcia/Sravya Gudipudi (Rochester) def. Kathryn Shaffer/Caroline Dunn (Ithaca) | 8-5
2. Abbey Reinhart/Alex Wolkoff (Rochester) def. Brianna Ruback/Taylor Ginestro (Ithaca) | 8-1
3. Sara Steinberg/Jane Alkhazov (Ithaca) def. Yaya Wang/Julia Steinberg (Rochester) | 8-4
Singles
1. Camila Garcia (Rochester) def. Brianna Ruback (Ithaca) | 6-3, 6-2
2. Kathryn Shaffer (Ithaca) def. Abbey Reinhart (Rochester) | 7-5, 7-5
3. Sravya Gudipudi (Rochester) def. Caroline Dunn (Ithaca) | 6-4, 6-3
4. Alex Wolkoff (Rochester) def. Taylor Ginestro (Ithaca) | 6-2, 6-2
5. Yaya Wang (Rochester) def. Sara Steinberg (Ithaca) | 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Julia Steinberg (Rochester) def. Jane Alkhazov (Ithaca) | 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4)
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,3,1,2,5,6)
 
The Bombers hoped to get off to a strong start during the double portion of play this morning, knowing that Rochester boasts a strong lineup top-to-bottom in the singles lineup. Aiding IC's cause was the return to the lineup of junior Caroline Dunn, who returned to the squad after studying abroad this past fall. Unfortunately, IC was unable to carry a lead out of the doubles sets.
 
The Yellowjackets got on the board first in the second-flight, as Reinhart and Wolkoff were able to control matters in an 8-1 triumph over Ithaca's Ruback and Ginestro. However, Ithaca leveled the team score at 1-1 when freshman Sara Steinberg and sophomore Jane Alkhazov notched an 8-4 victory over Rochester's Yaya Wang and Julia Steinberg in the third flight.
 
The rubber-match in doubles came in the top flight. Shaffer and Dunn battled hard against Rochester's top-flight grouping of Garcia and Gudipudi, but the home duo was able to pull away late for an 8-5 win and the momentum-building team point.
 
The Yellowjackets pushed the pace in the singles portion, scoring victories in the fourth and third flights to push IC to the brink. Wolkoff was able to knock off Ithaca's Ginestro 6-2, 6-2 to gain some separation. Gudipudi followed with a 6-4, 6-3 decision over Dunn in the third flight to stake Rochester to a 4-1 advantage.
 
The clincher came in the top-flight, as Rochester's Garcia knocked off IC's Ruback in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.
 
The Bombers can hang their hats on the final three matchups to conclude the day. Shaffer was the lone IC netter to get in the win column in singles, scoring a late break in each set to win over Rochester's Reinhart in straight frames 7-5, 7-5. Ithaca also battled hard in the fifth and sixth flights. Steinberg dropped a close contest to the Yellowjackets' Yaya Wang, taking the UofR netter to a tiebreak in the second set of a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5). Alkhazov also played a closely fought contest, which was decided with tiebreakers in both sets of a 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4) decision against Rochester's Steinberg.
 
Ithaca returns to action next Sunday, February 25, when it heads to the North Country to open Liberty League play at St. Lawrence. The match is slated to begin at 9:00 a.m.