THE Ateneo Women’s Lawn Tennis Team suffered their fourth loss of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 2-3. The Women’s Lawn Tennis match was held earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in the City of Manila.

A back-and-forth battle was held between Francesca Cruz and UP’s Sydney Enriquez in the first Singles match. With Cruz unable to sustain a late comeback in the first set, Enriquez managed to secure it over the Blue Eagle, 6-2. Building on a powerful performance from the previous set, the Fighting Maroon only dropped two points in the second set to claim the match, 6-2.

In the first Doubles match, the Blue and White duo of Nina Sandejas and Noelle Urgello went up against the Fighting Maroons’ Bianca Pica and Anica Cari. Notably, Sandejas had impressive counter shots on the UP duo in the first set. However, Pica and Cari were still able to maintain their composure to claim the first set over the Blue Eagles, 6-0. 

Improving their strategies in the second set, Sandejas and Urgello capitalized on UP’s errors to inch closer to the Fighting Maroons. Despite a late comeback in the second set, the Blue and White were ultimately forced to hand the victory to UP, 3-6.

Hoping to claim the first win, sophomore Althea Ong took the stage against UP’s Rachel Velez in the second Singles match. Ong’s powerful crosscourt shots and impressive receptions swiftly secured her the first set, 6-3. Maintaining a dominant showing in the second set, Velez’s netball forced her to hand the match to Ong, 6-3.

Aiming to secure another win for the Blue and White, Tracy Llamas and Mariam Garsin faced UP’s Joshea Malazarte and Jesha Cervantes in the second Doubles match. Garsin and Llamas had impressive offensive strategies and maximized UP’s errors to secure them the first set, 6-4. Recovering from their first set loss, Malazarte and Cervantes effectively countered with their aggressive shots to pull away from the Blue Eagles, 6-2. 

In the crucial third set, Ateneo and UP then engaged in a close battle as both teams showed impressive offensive and defensive strategies. However, the next-door Katipunan neighbors powered ultimately through Llamas and Garsin to secure the match for UP, 6-2.

Targeting to close the match with a win, Captain Melanie Faye Dizon faced UP’s Jonamil Prado. The Fighting Maroon struggled to respond to Dizon’s powerful shots as she powered through the first set, 6-2. Keeping the momentum on her side, Dizon’s impressive shot placements and defensive counters led her to claim the second set, 6-3. Dizon’s dominant performance then earned another point for Ateneo’s team-tie score, to finish at 2-3. 

The Blue Eagles now hold a 3-4 record equal to fourth place in the standings. Seeking to close the second round with an impressive finish, the Blue Eagles will face the National University Lady Bulldogs on April 16, Sunday, at 12:00 PM at the same venue.

Team-Tie Score: Ateneo-UP: 2-3

First Women’s Singles: Cruz fell to Enriquez, 2-6, 2-6

First Women’s Doubles: Sandejas & Urgello fell to Pica & Cari, 0-6, 3-6

Second Women’s Singles: Ong def. Velez, 6-3, 6-0

Second Women’s Doubles: Llamas & Garsin fell to Malazarte & Cervantes, 6-4, 2-6, 2-6

Third Women’s Singles: Dizon def. Prado, 6-2, 6-3