VILLANOVA, Pa.—Junior Annalise Klopfer (Palm Harbor, Fla.) won her match at No. 1 singles in straight sets over three-time BIG EAST Player of the Year Jessica Livianu and Villanova (2-2) powered past previously undefeated St. John's (4-1) with a 5-2 victory at the Villanova Tennis Complex on Thursday afternoon. Klopfer led the way for the Wildcats in a strong singles competition which included wins in each of the top four spots in the lineup. Villanova also won two of the three doubles matches to clinch an early team point. This is the second straight year that the Wildcats have defeated the Red Storm.
 
Klopfer won her No. 1 singles match by set scores of 6-3 and 6-2 over Livianu, who entered the day 4-0 in her previous career singles matches against Villanova. The win improve Klopfer's record in singles matches this season to 2-2. She has played exclusively in the top spot in the lineup and was also a winner against Lehigh earlier this year.
 
The singles wins for the Wildcats in Thursday's match came from Klopfer, senior Claudia Althans (Chagrin Falls, Ohio), senior Lexi DeNucci (Glastonbury, Conn.) and junior Emily Strande (Centennial, Colo.). Althans won her third-set tiebreaker and outlasted Najah Dawson for a 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 victory in the No. 2 match, while DeNucci tallied a 6-3, 6-2 win over Emilie Haakansson at the No. 3 spot. Strande played at No. 4 singles and was awarded a win by default after trailing the match 6-2, 4-4.
 
In the final two singles matches, sophomore Caitlin Fisher (Cincinnati, Ohio) fell in a close result (6-1, 7-6) to Camila Ordonez in the No. 5 spot in the lineup and freshman Bella Steffen (Cary, N.C.) was defeated (6-1, 6-3) by Willa Bay Breunich at No. 6 singles.
 
Villanova put itself in good position for the team result with early wins in the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles matches. Klopfer and DeNucci teamed up for a 7-5 decision over Oceane Garibal and Dawson in the top spot, while junior Sabina Grigorian (Atlanta, Ga.) and freshman Rose Kenny (Charlotte, N.C.) were 6-3 winners in the No. 3 match against Gabriela Tonorio and Jenelle Downer.
 
In the No. 2 doubles match, Livianu and Haakansson recorded a 6-1 victory over Althans and Strande.
 
Villanova is now 2-2 on the season with the win. After not playing since March 23 prior to today's outing against St. John's, the Wildcats will play three straight days. Villanova travels to Providence for a 3 p.m. match on Friday afternoon and then takes on Connecticut on the road Saturday at 12 p.m.