In a weekend in which the Bearcats experienced highs and lows, Binghamton University women’s tennis defeated Cornell in Ithaca Friday night to bring themselves to a four-game winning streak, right before losing to Harvard this Sunday.
On Friday, Binghamton (5-1) won over Cornell (3-3) for the first time.
Freshman Jillian Santos and sophomore Yulia Smirnova overcame Stephanie Kent and Natalia Sanchez to win first doubles, 8-5.
Second doubles went to Cornell after Elizabeth Googe and Shayna Miller defeated Yagmur Gone and Marina Bykovskaya, 8-1.
Sophomore player Lauren Bates and freshman Emma Leibowicz defeated Ruxandra Dumitrescu and Catherine Duboc 9-7 at third doubles.
In singles, Santos was winning 3-0 when her opponent was forced to retire.
“Santos was playing very well,” said Binghamton head coach Mike Stevens. “It was unfortunate that her opponent had to retire. It was still a good win for Jillian.”
Lauren Bates overcame Natalia Sanchez, 6-1, 7-5, at second singles. Her impressive win brought praise from Stevens.
“[Bates] played a very good match at No. 2 singles,” Stevens said. “She defeated a very good player from Cornell in straight sets.”
Smirnova won the clinching match at third singles against Elizabeth Googe. She won 7-5, 6-3 in the match, which gave the win to Binghamton.
“Smirnova was the match that clinched it for us,” Stevens said. “Once a school gets four points, it’s decided. She won the clinching point.”
Although the win received jovial celebrations, as it brought the Bearcats to a four-game winning streak, the celebrations and the streak were brought to an end in Cambridge, Mass. on Sunday, as they were defeated by Harvard (2-3), 5-2.
“Harvard’s a very good school,” Stevens said. “They’ve always been one of best schools in country. It was a very competitive match against them.”
Only Santos and Smirnova won their matches, defeating Camille Jania, 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4), and Samantha Rosekrans, 6-3, 6-4, respectively.
“Jill Santos won her match at second singles,” Stevens said. “She played a very good match to pull that one out. Yulia Smirnova played a very good match at third singles to win in straight sets.”
Harvard swept the doubles and won four out of six singles matches.
“It was a good match. The girls competed hard. Harvard was just too good for us,” Stevens said.