It took every ounce of effort, but the visiting Pioneers of William Paterson University got the better of the College of Staten Island in women's tennis action played at the CSI Tennis Center, in what was a 5-4 win by the visitors in CSI's home opener.  The Dolphins moved to 1-2 on the young season with the loss.

Play opened with doubles action, and it was here that the Pioneers took control and got a very crucial 2-1 lead.  The No. 3 team of Maris Ferreira and Meghan Crampton got the better of CSI's Qing Li and Tara Colao, 8-2, and although it was more spirited, CSI also went down at No. 2 Doubles by a score of 8-6.  in tat flight, WPU's Sonja Pedersen and Justine Lawson took out CSI's Yelena Rasporskaya and Justine Kuna.

CSI did get on the board, however, and made it a much tighter match by scoring a great win at No. 1 Doubles.  The team of senior Gabriella Villarruel and freshman Ilona Stoyko earned a very hard-fought 8-7 (7-3) winner over WPU's top team of Delnaz Shalforoosh and Mary Stretkowicz.  That made it a 2-1 contest going into singles.

Here, CSI nearly had what it took to overthrow the Pioneers.  At No. 1, Villarruel scored a 6-1, 4-6, 10-5, winner over Pedersen, and Stoyko also powered at o. 2, winning 6-0, 6-3 over Stretkowicz.  CSI's other win was a quality 6-1, 6-2, winner at No. 4 with Li over Lawson.  

CSI needed one more win at one of the other singles flights, but unfortunately couldn't get it, even though all three were well contested.  At No. 3, Shalforoosh squeaked by Rasporskaya by a 6-4, 6-4 count.  At No. 5 Kuna fell to Crampton, 7-5, 6-3, and at No. 6, WPU's Ferreira defeated Colao, 6-1, 7-5.

CSI gets back to action on Tuesday when they open up the CUNYAC portion of its schedule, hosting Baruch College at 3:30pm at the CSI Tennis Center.

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