St. John’s Women Fall to DePaul in Big East Championship

May 1, 2017 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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The St. John’s women’s tennis team came up one win shy of a BIG EAST title and an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, losing a tough 4-3 contest to Depaul in Cayce, South Carolina.
 
The No. 1-seeded Johnnies battled tough against the Blue Demons in a back and forth affair that featured a short rain delay. 
 
DePaul grabbed the doubles match point with a pair of victories at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions
 
The first doubles tandem of Jessica Livianu and Anna Morozova followed up with a victory of their own, besting Yulia Shupenia and Aspasia Avgeri, 6-2 to win their 22nd straight match. 
 
After doubles play concluded, both sides took a short break as rain showers traveled through the Cayce, S.C., area. 
When play resumed, DePaul took an early 2-0 lead in the match as Patricia Lancranjan, the women’s Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, topped Elgegren, 6-1, 6-3, at the No. 3. 
 
Irina Preotescu then picked up a crucial win for the Red Storm at the sixth position. The junior took the match in straight-sets, 6-4, 6-3, over Florence Abbot. 
 
Following this win, No. 65-ranked Livianu grabbed her 18th singles victory of the year with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Yulia Shupenia at the top spot. 
 
Inclan Solis gave the Johnnies their first lead of the day with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Aspasia Avgeri at the No. 5. The sophomore moved to an outstanding 20-1 in singles play this year. 
 
DePaul took back control with victories at the No. 4 and No. 2 spots. 
Despite the loss, the Red Storm wrapped up one of the most successful seasons in program-history. The Johnnies eclipsed an 18-4 overall record, 8-1 in BIG EAST play, marking the program’s most wins since 1981-82. Head Coach Lauren Leo also accomplished a feat of her own, grabbing the most wins-ever by a head coach in her first two seasons at the helm. Leo is a combined 32-9 in her career with the Johnnies. 
 
 
FULL RESULTS
No. 2 DePaul 4, No. 1 St. John’s 3
 
Singles
1. Jessica Livianu (SJW) def. Yulia Shupenia (DPW) 6-2, 6-4
2. Keisha Clousing (DPW) def. Anna Morozova (SJW) 6-4, 7-5
3. Patricia Lancranjan (DPW) def. Stephanie Elgegren (SJW) 6-1, 6-3
4. Ana Vladutu (DPW) def. Zofia Stanisz (SJW) 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
5. Olaya Inclan Solis (SJW) def. Aspasia Avgeri (DPW) 7-5, 6-4
6. Irina Preotescu (SJW) def. Florence Abbot (DPW) 6-4, 6-3
 
 Doubles
1. Jessica Livianu/Anna Morozova (SJW) def. Yulia Shupenia/Aspasia Avgeri (DPW) 6-2
2. Keisha Clousing/Patricia Lancranjan (DPW) def. Stephanie Elgegren/Delia Arranz (SJW) 6-2
3. Ana Vladutu/Florence Abbot (DPW) def. Olaya Inclan Solis/Zofia Stanisz (SJW) 6-2

New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
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