Senior Christi Valicenti prevailed in singles and doubles play but the Lake Forest College women's tennis team was downed 6-3 by Oglethorpe University in Orlando, Florida, on Monday.
Valicenti and freshman Billie Rodman posted an 8-6 victory at #1 doubles but an Oglethorpe win in the tiebreaker at #2 gave the Stormy Petrels a 2-1 advantage going into singles play. It was the first of five tiebreakers in the match.
After Oglethorpe extended its lead with a victory at #6 singles, the Foresters pulled back to within a point after a 6-4, 6-3 triumph at #4 by freshman Allison Watts. The Petrels earned another point at #3 singles but Valicenti came out on top of a 2-6, 7-5, (10-6) decision at #2 to make the score 4-3. Oglethorpe clinched the match with a 6-7 (7-9), 6-1, (12-10) win at #5 and added a 5-7, 7-5, (11-9) victory at #1 to close out the contest.
The Foresters, who are ranked tied-for-20th in the Central Region, fell to 11-2 on the year while Oglethorpe improved to 4-3.
Lake Forest will play a pair of matches tomorrow, beginning with a 11:30 a.m. (EST) tilt against Wittenberg University at Oak Street Community Park in Kissimmee, Florida. The Foresters will then return to the Lake Cane Tennis Center in Orlando to take on Juniata College at 7:00 p.m.
