Princeton University’s women’s tennis team attained their inaugural Ivy League victory over Columbia in a hard-fought 4–3 win. The No. 52 Tigers competed against the No. 44 Columbia Lions, both holding a 2–1 record in the Ivy League.
Despite recent challenges, the Tigers secured the pivotal doubles point, with first-year Alice Ferlito and senior Neha Velaga emerging victorious, and the duo of sophomore Eva Elbaz and junior Leena Bennetto adding another win, propelling Princeton to a 1–0 lead.
Elbaz and Columbia’s Sophia Wang engaged in a competitive match at the #6 singles spot, culminating in Wang’s triumph. Ferlito also faced a tough battle at the #4 singles spot, but Columbia’s Gayathri Krishnan staged a comeback to secure the win, putting Columbia in the lead at 2–1.
Meanwhile, Bennetto fought valiantly and clinched victory at the #2 singles spot, evening the score at 2–2. Princeton’s Neha Velaga secured a win at the #1 singles spot, elevating the Tigers to a 3–2 lead with two matches remaining.
Regrettably, Madeleine Jessup experienced cramping in the third set, leading to her withdrawal and tying the overall score at 3–3. The final point hinged on the match between Maia Sung and Julia Haynes at the #3 singles spot. After a challenging contest, Sung emerged victorious, securing the overall triumph for Princeton.
The Tigers encountered a formidable opponent in Columbia, which made adaptations across all matches. With this victory, Princeton is poised to face Brown in the upcoming week, aiming to sustain their positive momentum.
The Tigers’ impressive performance in doubles matches has provided a solid foundation for their future competitions. It is evident that the team has diligently worked to enhance their game, and this victory underscores their tenacity and resilience.
The compelling match between Princeton and Columbia was covered by Riley Bonner, a Sports contributor for the ‘Prince.’ For any corrections or feedback, please address them to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.