Air Force Academy
James Madison
Falcons Split Pair of Matches in Orlando
3/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 14, 2014
The Air Force women's tennis team split a pair of matches Friday in Orlando, Fla. The Falcons, who moved to 6-5 this spring, defeated Radford 4-2 Friday morning before falling to James Madison 5-2 in the afternoon.
Air Force captured the doubles point against Radford by winning at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles. Junior Natasha Rizvi and sophomore Mary Meyers won at the top spot, 8-2, over Gemma Valls and Taylor Newman, while junior Tiffany Tran and freshman Lily Forlini defeated Taylor Fay and Gisela Garcia, 8-3, at No. 3.
In singles play, three freshmen won for the Falcons. Tracy Landram improved to 11-0 in dual matches with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Meg Napovitano at the No. 3 position, while Lily Forlini downed Garcia, 7-6(4), 6-3 at No. 5 and Jocelle Rudico picked up her first career dual match singles win with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Sara Andrade at No. 6.
"After being off for two weeks, it was great to play some competitive matches," said head coach Kim Gidley. "After winning the doubles point, we took out our No. 2 and 3 singles players which made everyone else really have to step up and be accountable. The players did a great job with the challenge and fought hard to close out the match."
In the afternoon match against James Madison, the Falcons once again won the doubles point. Rizvi and Meyers won the No. 1 match, 8-2, over Taylor Pinchoff and Alex Huie while Tran and Lily Forlini won at No. 2, 8-3, over Cara Wirth and Sarah Khan.
Air Force could not hold that momentum, however, as JMU won five of the six singles matches. Rizvi captured AFA's lone victory with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 victory over Emily Bradshaw at No. 3.
We played our best doubles of the spring against JMU," said Gidley. "We just came out on fire against a very good team. In singles, we seemed to struggle with the heat and humidity in our second dual of the day, although we did play several close matches."
The Falcons play Wheaton College on Saturday, March 15 at noon (ET).
Air Force 4, Radford 2
Friday, March 14, 2014
Orlando, Colo.
Doubles
1. Natasha Rizvi / Mary Meyers (AF) def. Gemma Valls / Taylor Newman, 8-2
2. Meg Napovitano / Grace Sarver (RU) def. Marcelli Magday/ Anastasia Hueffner, 6-5(1)
3. Lily Forlini / Tiffany Tran (AF) def. Taylor Fay / Gisela Garcia, 8-3
Singles
1. Tran (AF) vs. Newman, 6-4, 4-6, 5-5, DNF
2. Valls (RU) def. Magday, 7-5, 7-5
3. Tracy Landram (AF) def. Napovitano, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
4. Sarver (RU) def. Chloe Forlini, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
5. Lily Forlini (AF) def. Garcia, 7-6(4), 6-3
6. Jocelle Rudico (AF) def. Sara Andrade, 6-3, 6-1
James Madison 5, Air Force 2
Friday, March 14, 2014
Orlando, Colo.
Doubles
1. Natasha Rizvi / Mary Meyers (AF) def. Taylor Pinchoff / Alex Huie, 8-2
2. Tiffany Tran / Lily Forlini (AF) def. Cara Wirth / Sarah Khan, 8-3
3. Jacqueline Palmucci / Ruxandra Andriescu (JMU) def. Marcelli Magday / Anastasia Hueffner, 8-6
Singles
1. Pinchoff (JMU) def. Tran, 6-2, 6-4
2. Huie (JMU) def. Meyers, 6-0, 6-3
3. Rizvi (AF) def. Emily Bradshaw, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
4. Rachel Nelson (JMU) def. Magday, 6-1, 6-3
5. Andriescu (JMU) def. Tracy Landram, 7-6(4), 6-2
6. Palmucci (JMU) def. Chloe Forlini, 6-4, 6-4
Players Mentioned
