Sept. 17, 2011
Updated Brackets
LEWISBURG, Pa.--Villanova opened the fall season with the first of three days of competition at the Bucknell Invitational, where senior Allison Solberg (Holmes Beach, Fla.) and sophomore Mikelle Mancini (Salt Lake City, Utah) each won their "A" flight singles matches at the Varsity Tennis Courts on Friday.
In all the Wildcats have seven individuals and three doubles teams competing this weekend in three singles flights and two doubles flights. Play continues on Saturday morning. Villanova won five of the six singles matches it played in on Friday and also posted a combined 4-1 record in doubles action.
In the "A" singles flight Solberg won her opening match against Christy Schneider of Bucknell in straight sets, 7-5 and 6-1. She will next take on Sabrina Fedele of Loyola (Md.), a three-set winner on Friday versus an opponent from St. Francis (Pa.).
Mancini also was a straight-set winner on Friday, as she knocked off Kelly Conroy (Mount St. Mary's), 6-1 and 7-6. She will take on Rachel Janasek of Loyola (Md.) in her next match.
Sophomore Amanda Nelson (Sudbury, Mass.) is also playing in the "A" singles flight and she was defeated by Bucknell's Demi Iepuras, 6-2 and 6-3. Nelson will face Alex Sachs of St. Francis (Pa.) in her first match on Saturday.
Freshmen Sydney West and Kate Pettee both debuted for Villanova in the "B" singles flight. West defeated Tiffany Ash from Loyola (Md.) by a final count of 6-2, 6-1 to set up a meeting with Jen Bush (Bucknell). Pettee defeated Devynn Sarver of St. Francis (Pa.), 6-0 and 6-1. She next plays Olivia Ott from Loyola (Md.).
In the "C" singles flight freshman Aurora McQuade was victorious over Claudia Silvers (Bucknell) in straight sets, 7-5 and 6-3. She will play Jackie Lionetta (Loyola) in her first match on Saturday. Meanwhile, sophomore Anne Cognetti (Waverly, Pa.) had a bye in the "C" flight and will open up against Danielle Nguyen (Mount St. Mary's) on Saturday.
In doubles action, Mancini and West have already advanced to the semifinals of the "A" flight. Following a bye in the first round they defeated Alex Sachs and Nuria Valls of St. Francis (Pa.) by an 8-4 score. Mancini and West are matched up with Courtney Casey and Iepuras (Bucknell) in the semifinals.
Pettee and Solberg teamed up in "A" flight doubles play and opened with an 8-6 win over Lucy Jasso and Shivani Patel of St. Francis (Pa.). They were then defeated by Rachel Janasek and Olivia Ott from Loyola (Md.) in a narrow 9-8 decision.
In the "B" flight of doubles Cognetti and Nelson played their way to a close 8-6 win over Liz Black and Rachel Bergeron from Loyola (Md.) in their opening match. They went on to score an 8-0 victory over Jenny Smith and Taylor D'Agostino (Mount St. Mary's) to reach the semifinals. Cognetti and Nelson play against a duo from Bucknell on Saturday.
COMPLETE VILLANOVA RESULTS
Friday, September 16
Flight "A" Singles
Allison Solberg (Villanova) defeated Christy Schneider (Bucknell) 7-5, 6-1
Demi Iepuras (Bucknell) defeated Amanda Nelson (Villanova) 6-2, 6-3
Mikelle Mancini (Villanova) defeated Kelly Conroy (Mount St. Mary's) 6-1, 7-6
Flight "B Singles
Sydney West (Villanova) defeated Tiffany Ash (Loyola) 6-2, 6-1
Kate Pettee (Villanova) defeated Devynn Sarver (St. Francis) 6-0, 6-1
Flight "C" Singles
Aurora McQuade (Villanova) defeated Claudia Silvers (Bucknell) 7-5, 6-3
Anne Cognetti (Villanova) had a bye
Flight "A" Doubles
Mikelle Mancini/Sydney West (Villanova) had a bye
Mikelle Mancini/Sydney West defeated Alex Sachs/Nuria Valls (St. Francis) 8-4
Kate Pettee/Allison Solberg (Villanova) defeated Lucy Jasso/Shivani Patel (St. Francis) 8-6
Rachel Janasek/Olivia Ott (Loyola) defeated Kate Pettee/Allison Solberg 9-8
Flight "B" Doubles
Anne Cognetti/Amanda Nelson (Villanova) defeated Liz Black/Rachel Bergeron (Loyola) 8-6
Anne Cognetti/Amanda Nelson defeated Jenny Smith/Taylor D'Agostino (Mount St. Mary's) 8-0
