West Chester Women Defeat East Stroudsburg In PSAC Opener, 6-3

Box Score

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Nicole Nardi scored a 6-2, 6-4 win over her opponent at sixth singles to clinch West Chester University's 6-3 win over visiting East Stroudsburg in a PSAC East women's tennis match on South Campus Thursday.
 
West Chester (4-8, 1-0 PSAC East) picked up its first win of the spring and halted a five-match losing streak in the process. Two of those five defeats came at the hands of nationally ranked competition while four of the five losses were suffered down south to schools from the state of Florida. East Stroudsburg (5-3, 0-1) dropped its second straight match.
 
The Golden Rams held a 2-1 advantage coming out of doubles play thanks to a 9-8 (3) victory by Abriana Nolan and Haley Wissinger at second doubles. WCU's third doubles team of Cassidy Branigan and Stephanie Cifarelli dropped a heart-breaking, 9-7 match.
 
Maddy Shaak and Jami Dumler won their respective singles match at 1st and 4th positions to give the Golden Rams a commanding 4-1 lead and set the stage for Nardi's match-clinching victory. Shaak was a 6-0, 6-2 winner while Dumler topped her opposition, 6-2, 6-0.
 
Shaak and Nicole Fahringer teamed up at first doubles for an 8-2 victory. Branigan was a 6-4, 6-0 winner at second singles for West Chester's other victory in the match.
 
West Chester was originally scheduled to travel to Bloomsburg and Kutztown Friday and Saturday. However, the Golden Rams' match at Bloomsburg was postponed due to expected rain in the forecast. Saturday's forecast does not look much more promising either. In fact, the entire weekend looks to be a very wet three-day cycle.