ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- It was a close battle that came down to deciding third sets in singles, but Lafayette College women's tennis (3-4, 1-2 PL) fell, 4-2, in a non-conference match against St. Joseph's (4-7, 0-4 A-10) on Sunday afternoon.

The Leopards started the match with a bang in doubles to earn the opening point. Senior Ruthie Wilson made her season debut, partnering with sophomore Melanie Sparhawk for a 6-1 win in third-flight doubles. Seniors Cecelia Lesnick and Samantha Snyder secured the doubles point with a 6-3 win in the second flight.



Sophomore Halle DeNardo continued Lafayette's momentum with a straight-sets win at fourth-flight singles, her second singles victory of the season and fourth total singles/doubles win in 2021.

The Hawks led 3-2 as Snyder and Sparhawk both took their singles matches into third sets. Snyder came back from a set down thanks to a 6-3 second-set win in her second-flight match, but Saint Joseph's sophomore Stow Weiss took the decider, 7-5. Sparhawk also fought back from a set down, taking the second set 6-4 and leading 4-3 in the deciding set against another sophomore, Sophia Amato. This sixth-flight rubber was called when the Hawks had secured the overall match with a 4-2 advantage.

The Leopards hit the road next Sunday for a Patriot League match against Colgate.



Saint Joseph's 4, Lafayette 2

Singles
Amanda Nava (St. Joe's) def. Maureen McCormack (Lafayette), 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
Stow Weiss (St. Joe's) def. Samantha Snyder (Lafayette), 6-1, 3-6, 7-5
Fabiana Tort-Umpierre (St. Joe's) def. Cecelia Lesnick (Lafayette), 6-3, 6-2
Halle DeNardo (Lafayette) def. Paige Conrad (St. Joe's) 7-5, 6-2
Ireland Amato (St. Joe's) def. Jessica Siegel (Lafayette), 7-6, 6-0
Melanie Sparhawk (Lafayette) was leading Sophia Amato (St. Joe's), 3-6, 6-4, 4-3 (DNF)

Doubles
Amanda Nava / Stow Weiss (St. Joe's) def. Maureen McCormack / Halle DeNardo (Lafayette), 7-5
Cecelia Lesnick / Samantha Snyder (Lafayette) def. Ireland Amato / Anna Kirk (St. Joe's), 6-3
Melanie Sparhawk / Ruthie Wilson (Lafayette) def. Madeline Hill / Alex Kramer (St. Joe's), 6-1