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Borza Ties Singles Record, Pitt Wins Match At Championships
April 18, 2008
TAMPA, Fla.--Junior Kristy Borza tied her school record for singles wins in a season, as Pitt's women's tennis team won its first match at the Big East Championships in eight years, with a 4-1 victory over Georgetown in the second round today. This is Pitt's first win at the Big East Championships since the team had to qualify to earn a berth in the tournament. Prior to that, the Panthers last win in the championships was against Connecticut in 2000. The Panthers improved to 12-8 on the season with the win. "Before the season began we had the following goals: qualify for the Big East Championships, win a match in the Big East Championships, work hard to produce a winning season and do our best in practice and in every match we play," head Coach George Dieffenbach said. "With one match left this season, we have accomplished each goal." Pitt took an early lead in doubles action when Borza (Beaver, Pa./Beaver Area) and No. 1 doubles partner freshman Elizabeth Adams (Reading, Pa./Wilson) earned a come-back 8-3 win, after dropping the first game. Minutes later the No. 3 doubles team of seniors Leah Friedman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) and Carlie Smith (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) came back to tie their match at 6-6, but fell two games later. The attention was then focused on junior Christie D'achille (Gibsonia, Pa./North Allegheny) and sophomore Sabrina Visram (Orlando, Fla./Lake Highland Prep) in No. 2 doubles, who were leading the Hoyas at the time.
However, Georgetown tied the match at 7-7, but Pitt won the next game to take the 8-7 lead. In the final game, Visram recorded the winning shot when she placed the ball in a shallow spot ahead of the Hoya's racket, for a five-game win in the breaker. Borza won her 27th singles match of the season with a 6-2, 6-1 victory in singles. That victory tied her school record for singles wins in a season. Additionally, Adams improved to 26-9 in singles play and is currently tied for the second-best number of wins in a season. Her 20 doubles victories this year is also second-best in the single-season record books. Adams was down 4-1 in the first set of her match, before she came back and won 6-4. then in the second set, it started close but Adams once again pulled away winning the deciding point of the match with a 6-3 win in No. 3 singles. Visram won the 56th victory of her career with a 6-3, 6-2 win in No. 2 singles for the Panthers third point of the match. "The teamwork of this team has elevated this program," said Dieffenbach. "We play West Virginia tomorrow and we go into the match with maximum opportunity after beating them 4-3 earlier this season. The Panthers are proud and are having fun." The Panthers face West Virginia at 3 p.m., for a ninth-place finish at the tournament. Doubles Singles |
  
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