THE ATENEO Lady Eagles looked out of sorts in their matchup against the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Women’s Lawn Tennis tournament. They drop to a 2-2 record after their 2-3 team-tie defeat on Sunday, March 3, at the Colegio San Agustin-Bulacan Tennis Stadium in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.
Jana Hernandez was tasked to take on UP’s Khim Iglupas for the first singles match. Despite not playing a singles match since her freshman year, Hernandez put up a good fight in the first set, but was eventually bested by her nationally-ranked opponent in two sets, 3-6, 0-6.
The tandem of Nicole Amistad and Janelle Llavore took to the court for their first doubles match against Willow Day and Dana Uy. After losing the first set, 3-6, they retaliated in the second with a 6-2 win. However, the prowess of the Lady Maroons was too much for the Blue and White. The tandem of Day and Uy secured the second match for UP after winning the third set, 4-6.
In the crucial second singles matchup, Jana Pages faced off against Lady Maroon Nica Alanis. Pages started the match strong, winning the first set 6-2, but fatigue seemed to catch up to her. She fell in the next two sets, 2-6, 3-6, which sealed the team-tie victory for UP.
The doubles pairing of Alexis McLean and Bettina Bautista, and the undefeated rookie Shaira Rivera, still managed to end the day on a high note for their team. McLean, who dislocated her shoulder during warmups, and Bautista, defeated Theresa Tan and Dana Regala in two sets, 6-4, 6-4, to put the Lady Eagles on the board.
Rivera’s dominance was also on full display as she demolished her opponent, Danielle Carranza, 6-0, 6-1, to tally another team-tie win for the Lady Eagles.
The Ateneo Lady Eagles will look to bounce back next weekend when the second round of UAAP Tennis begins.
Team-tie score: Ateneo 2 UP 3
Set scores:
First Singles: Iglupas def. Hernandez (Ateneo), 3-6, 0-6
Second Singles: Alanis def. Pages (Ateneo), 6-2, 2-6, 3-6
Third Singles: Rivera (Ateneo) def. Bornia, 6-0, 6-1
First Doubles: Day and Uy def. Amistad and Llavore (Ateneo), 3-6, 6-2, 4-6
Second Doubles: B. Bautista and McLean (Ateneo) def. Tan and Regala, 6-4, 6-4
