Women's Tennis Competes at Brown Invitational
Oct 03 | Women's Tennis
PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rutgers women’s tennis team won six of the nine doubles matches it competed in at the Brown Invitational, which was held Oct. 1-2 in Providence, RI.
The Invitational was organized in a traditional match-play style, with five singles matches and three doubles matches between the teams. Boston University, Dartmouth and Brown – all three regionally ranked programs – also competed.
Alina Balasa (East Brunswick, NJ) and Dana Gordon (Margate, NJ) were RU’s No. 1 doubles team, picking up victories over a pair from Brown (8-3) and Dartmouth (8-4). Additionally, Gordon continued her stellar singles play, earning the No. 2 position and winning all three of her matches in straight sets. Through three invitational in the fall, Gordon has a 10-0 record.
“Dana is playing outstanding tennis right now,” said head coach Ben Bucca. “You can see her confidence growing every time she steps on the court. For her to step in and play this well so soon is remarkable.”
Jill Markowitz (Forest Hills, NY) and Anela Dujsic (Mississauga, Ontario) defeated a team from Brown (8-5) on Oct. 1, and the Scarlet Knights finished the invitational on Sunday by sweeping three doubles matches against Dartmouth. Markowitz teamed with Katrina Elder-Bush (Boston, MA) at the No. 2 position, while Ketevan Shmakova (Dover, NJ) and Dujsic won at third doubles.
“To go up against three regionally ranked teams and perform so well in doubles is a great thing to see,” said Bucca. “Doubles play has traditionally been one of our strengths, and that appears as though it will continue this year.”
Rutgers returns to action Oct. 20 – 23 when it travels to Philadelphia, PA, for the annual ITA Regional Championships.
