PURCHASE, N.Y. – The reigning Skyline Conference champion Manhattanville University women's tennis team began the quest to defend the crown on Wednesday afternoon as the Valiants took to the courts for the first time in 2024. Manhattanville opened up the new campaign with a 5-2 victory over visiting Hunter to officially ring in the fall campaign.
Per Intercollegiate Tennis Association rule change ahead of the 2024-25 season, 7-point dual match scoring format was enacted for Division III play for non-conference dual matches, with individual conferences allowed to determine scoring format of choice for conference play. As such, Wednesday's match saw the Valiants and Hawks compete for a single point in doubles play, with the best-of-three winner taking the score advantage into singles.
Last season's rookie standouts
Suzi Doyle (Devon, England/Exeter College) and
Addison-Mercedes Ortiz (Bronx, N.Y./High School for Health Professions and Human Services) excelled in their sophomore debuts as the pairing notched a 6-1 victory over Sara Contreras and Sara Novo. Hunter logged a 6-1 doubles win of their own as
Sara King (Schenectady, N.Y./Scotia-Glenville) and
Mikhalia Grant (Mount Vernon, N.Y./New Visions Charter High School for Advanced Math and Science II) fell to Sree Kolla and Summer Nietubicz on court three. The early advantage would be decided on the show court as a pair of new faces for the Valiants partnered up for the first time. Sophomore transfer
Amaya Ortiz (Bronx, N.Y./High School for Health Professions and Human Services) and freshman
Adrianna Filippelli (Mastic, N.Y./William Floyd) showed strong synergy in their first outing, as the pair defeated Anna Chapko and Julia Aksamentova 6-2 to earn the first point of the match for Manhattanville.
The Valiants took four of the six singles flights to secure the season-opening win. Doyle earned the first Manhattanville solos point, defeating Contreras 6-2, 6-0 in the No. 2 flight. Doyle's doubles partner was the next to earn victory as
Addison-Mercedes Ortiz (Bronx, N.Y./High School for Health Professions and Human Services) logged a 6-1, 6-2 victory in No. 4s over Aksamentova. Ortiz' sister Amaya secured the win in the top flight, defeating Chapko 6-3, 6-3. King was awarded the Valiants' final point after her opponent Kolla retired due to injury on court five. King trailed 4-6, 1-4 at the time of the retirement.
Grant fell to Nietubicz 0-6, 1-6 in No. 6 singles, while Filippelli came up just short in a marathon battle against Novo in No. 3s, 6-4, 4-6, 7-10.
Up Next
The Valiants hit the road on Friday to take on New Paltz at 3:30 p.m.
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