Youngstown State University
Fla. Atlantic
Sahni's Win Clinches 4-3 Victory Over Florida Atlantic
2/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Boca Raton, Fla. - Youngstown State freshman Nehel Sahni earned a tough three-set at No. 5 singles to help left the Penguins to a 4-3 win over Florida Atlantic on Thursday at Patch Reef Park.
The Owls (1-3) won the doubles point to force the Penguins to win four singles matches. YSU improves to 4-3 with the win and has won four of its last five.
In singles play, YSU dropped matches at No. 6 and No. 1 to fall behind 3-0. However, things went the way of the Guin at No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5.
Annina Brendel picked up the first win at No. 3 defeating Stephanie Cardullo 6-4, 6-3. Marta Burak followed with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 at No. 2 over Lyndsey Boos. The Guins tied the match when Domincka Lackova won 6-3, 6-4 against Catalina Ene.
The match came down to the third set between Sahni and FAU's Bianca Biglione. Sahni jumped out to the lead by winning the first set 6-0. Biglione picked up a 7-5 win in set No. 2 before Sahni regrouped and won 6-3 in the third set.
Head Coach Mickael Sopel said the Penguins fought hard after falling behind to the Owls.
"After losing the doubles point, we came out strong in singles to pick up the win," Sopel said. "We showed some resiliance and a large amount of will to win that match. It was great to see Nehel finding her stride and her tennis is improving every day. I was impressed by the way she handled the pressure to win that third set.
YSU returns to action on Saturday morning when they take on Florida International at 10 a.m.
YSU 4, Florida Atlantic 3
Singles
No. 1 - Kandis Legall (FAU) def. Sadovnikova (YSU) - 6-4, 6-3
No. 2 - Burak (YSU) def. Lyndsey Boos (FAU) - 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
No. 3 - Brendel (YSU) def. Stephanie Cardullo (FAU) - 6-4, 6-3
No. 4 - Lackova (YSU) def. Catalina Ene (FAU) - 6-3, 6-4
No. 5 - Sahni (YSU) def. Bianca Biglione (FAU) - 6-0, 5-7, 6-3
No. 6 - Claire-Mitchell Andrews (FAU) def. Puppo (YSU) - 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
No. 1 - Sadovnikova/Burak (YSU) vs. Biglione/Cardullo (FAU) - 4-5
No. 2 - Legall/Taylor Briggs (FAU) def. Lackova/Brendel (YSU) - 8-3
No. 3 - Ene/Boos (FAU) def. Sahni/Jesko (YSU) - 8-1
