Sage falls in Skyline Tournament, 5-4

October 22, 2009

Despite an early lead, Sage would fall from the Skyline Conference Tournament on Thursday, 5-4.

Troy, NY----The Sage Colleges women's tennis team hosted the Panthers of Purchase College on Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the 2009 Skyline Conference Championship. Earlier this season, Sage earned a 5-4 win over Purchase, but Thursday's match would go to Purchase, 5-4. With the win, Purchase advances to Saturday's semifinal match against top seeded Mt. St. Mary College, which will be played at West Point's indoor tennis facilities.

Purchase improves to 13-4 overall, while Sage stands at 8-4.

The winning point for the Panthers would come at third singles as junior Collline Laninga (Hunter, NY/HTC) defeated Sage's junior captain Kathryn Saulsbery (Colonie, NY/Colonie Central) in three sets. Laninga would suffer an ankle sprain in the doubles, which was played first but stayed in the match and would score the winning point for her squad as she beat Saulsbery, 2-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4. With the win, Laninga improves to 13-3, while Saulsbery drops to 6-4 on the fall.

Sage would take a 2-1 lead after doubles play as they won at both first and second doubles. Sage would own a 4-1 lead, before Purchase racked up wins at sixth singles, fourth singles, fifth singles and third to win the contest.

Sage's senior Christina Gray (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) was a 6-1, 6-0 winner over junior Erin Higgins (Glen Falls, NY/Glen Falls) at first singles and improves to 17-0 lifetime in Skyline Conference singles play, while owning a 12-2 singles record this fall. Sage's sophomore Erica Fitzgerald (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) added a 6-1, 6-4 win over senior Inna Karaseva (Brooklyn, NY/Edward R. Miurrow) at second singles. Gray and Fitzgerald teamed for an 8-1 win at first doubles, beating Higgins and Karaseva. Gray and Fitzgerald are now 9-3 overall, while the Panthers' duo drops to 9-7.

PURCHASE PANTHERS vs Sage College 10/22/09 at Prospect Park (Troy, NY)

PURCHASE PANTHERS 5, Sage College 4

Singles competition

1. Christina Gray (SAGE) def. Higgins, Erin (PUR-WTN) 6-1, 6-0

2. Erica Fitzgerald (SAGE) def. Karaseva, Inna (PUR-WTN) 6-1, 6-4

3. Laninga, Colline (PUR-WTN) def. Kathryn Saulsbery (SAGE) 2-6, 7-6, 6-4

4. de Muns, Tatyana (PUR-WTN) def. Ashley Brennan (SAGE) 6-1, 6-4

5. Hadar, Tova (PUR-WTN) def. Briana Bixler (SAGE) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2

6. Lopez, Alyson (PUR-WTN) def. Megan Holmes (SAGE) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. Christina Gray/Erica Fitzgerald (SAGE) def. Higgins, Erin/Karaseva, Inna (PUR-WTN) 8-1

2. Kathryn Saulsbery/Megan Holmes (SAGE) def. de Muns, Tatyana/Laninga, Colline (PUR-WTN) 8-2