Naval Women’s Tennis Team Faces Hard-Fought Defeat Against Richmond
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – In a closely contested match on Sunday afternoon, the Navy women’s tennis team fell to the Richmond Spiders with a final score of 4-3 at the Raintree Swim and Racquet Club. The outcome marked a challenging close to the second weekend of their spring season, leaving Navy with a record of 2-2 overall while Richmond improved to 1-1.
Despite their efforts, Navy struggled in doubles play. The top pair of Elizabeth Novak and Sofia Maria Barbulescu from Richmond defeated Navy seniors Sylvia Eklund and Anna Jordaan by a score of 6-2. Shortly thereafter, Andrea Campodinico and Lara Bakhaya clinched the doubles point with a similar 6-2 victory over Navy’s senior duo, Emily Tannenbaum and Parvathi Shanker. Navy did secure a win at the No. 3 spot, with sophomore Olivia Fermo and freshman Emma Gu defeating Claire Le Du and Lainey O’Neil 6-3.
As singles action commenced, Bakhaya continued her winning streak, overpowering Shanker in the No. 3 position with a score of 6-2, 7-5. Barbulescu then secured another victory for the Spiders, besting Tannenbaum 6-1, 6-3. Eklund kept Navy’s hopes alive by winning a tiebreaker in the first set, eventually taking the match against Abby Lee 7-6(7-2), 6-2 at the No. 2 slot. However, Richmond’s Le Du sealed the match by overcoming freshman Grace Li in the No. 5 position with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 win.
In the final matches, senior Kate Lee achieved a comeback victory on the fourth court, winning 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(7-4) after a tough battle, while Gu secured a straight-set victory against O’Neil, finishing 6-3, 7-5.
Coaching Reflections
Coach Keith Puryear shared insights after the match, stating, “This was another intense match. While it would have been wonderful to win both doubles and singles, we’ll use this experience as a stepping stone for our growth and future success. The support we received from the crowd added to the atmosphere, and I believe we have areas to improve as we prepare for another challenging weekend.”
Match Highlights and Statistics
- Navy’s all-time record against Richmond now stands at 4-7.
- This marks Navy’s first losing streak of the spring season, following back-to-back defeats.
- Fermo and Gu continue their impressive run with a three-match winning streak over the doubles circuit.
Looking Ahead
Navy will next take to the road for a match against Liberty at 10 a.m. on February 1. They will then return home to host George Washington at 11 a.m. on February 2.
