The Tiffin University Women's Tennis team took on #38 ranked Indiana University of Pennsylvania for their first match back in a matchup of juggernauts with the Dragons coming in ranked #50 in the nation. The Dragons fought hard, but ultimately fell 5-4 in a match decided by several 3 set matches.
The Dragons came out with much of what they have seen during the regular season with a big win at 1st doubles but dropping two close matches at 2nd and 3rd doubles.
The usual winning duo of Nelhage/Kaye took care of business in a close 9-8 (2) decision that gave the Dragons their only doubles point of the , pmatch.
2nd doubles saw the Dragons' pair of Mazzola/Musina drop a close 5-8 decision to IUP's Wood/Gonzalez. 3rd doubles was much the same as Avram/Harpaintner fell 4-8.
After doubles play the Dragons were down 1-2. They knew strong singles play would be their opportunity to come back in the match and fell just short of a tremendous comeback.
1st Singles saw the usual steady Nelhage win a close 7-6 (4), 6-4 decision over IUP's Pertercakova. Nelhage, playing ill, saved several break points en route to a comeback which saw her at one point down 2-5 love-40 to come back and take the match in straight sets.
2nd singles action for the Dragons was veteran and Senior Valentina Mazzola who lost in heartbreak fashion, taking the first set 6-4 but dropping the final two sets 1-6, 3-6.
3rd singles saw TU's Musina cruise to another straight set victory as she continued where she left off in the fall with a 6-0, 6-4 victory. Musina, a former GLIAC player of the week, was able to dominate in usual fashion to give the Dragons hope with a singles point.
A wild one at 4th singles went in the Dragons' favor as TU's Harpaintner won the first set 6-0 before dropping the second set 1-6. The third set became the decider and after being down 2-5 love - 40 Harpaintner clawed her way back to a third set 7-5 victory over IUP's Menes.
At 5th singles Avram dropped a 0-6, 2-6 decision to IUP's von Agris.
6th singles is often considered one of the toughest spots to play due to the many times it can be a match decider and another close match that just didn't bounce the Dragons' way was the decider. TU's Kaye lost a heartbreaking 3 setter that saw her fight her way back from a 0-6 first set loss to win the second set. Kaye ran out of gas in the 3rd set, losing 1-6 and sealing the deal for a Crimson Hawk victory.
This was TU's final match until their spring break road trip down to Hilton Head, South Carolina where they will have a slew of matches to prepare them for their hopeful regional birth later this season.
