The Georgetown University women’s tennis team fell to Howard, 6-1 on Wednesday, March 28 at GU's McDonough Tennis Facility. The Hoyas record fell to 3-11 overall on the year.
In the double’s competition, the Hoyas were unable to take two out of the three matches and lost the doubles point. Lara Madonia (Fr., Ramsey, N.J./ Immaculate Heart Academy) and Meredith Bumpass (So., Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Hawken School (Colgate)) were victorious for the Hoyas at #3 doubles, 8-1, against the Bison's Elena Branker and Megan Moore. At #1 doubles Georgetown's Caroline Marshall (Jr., Pittsford, N.Y./Harley) and Hadley Muckerman (So., St. Louis, Mo./MICDS) were not able to defeat the top tandem from Howard, Lamia Alami and Tanya Okpala, falling 8-2. The deciding match came down to GU's #2 duo of Jordan Botjer (Fr., Miami, Fla./Ransom Everglades) and Julie Hom (Sr., Newton, Mass/Newton South) against HU's Tiffany Speas and Kim Strickland. The Hoyas were able to fight off three match points before losing the match 8-6.
The singles competition started off with the Hoyas tying the match at 1-1. GU's Hom used her offensive firepower at #6 singles to quickly eliminate Howard's Moore, 6-2, 6-1. Howard opened up a 3-1 lead when the Bison's Strickland defeated Georgetown's
Muckerman at #4, 6-0, 6-2 and Howard's Speas beat GU's Madonia at #3, 6-1, 6-1. Trailing 3-1 the Hoyas needed to sweep the final three singles matches. At #5 singles the Hoyas' Bumpass was hitting deep groundstrokes but could not break through on the deciding points and lost to HU's Branker 6-4, 6-1. Botjer played #2 singles for GU and after opening up a 6-1, 5-4 lead against Howard's Okpala was unable to capitalize and lost the final two sets, 7-5, 6-3. The #1 singles match came down to a third set superbreaker where GU's Marshall attacked the net but could not finish off the Bison's Alami, losing 7-5, 2-6, (10-8).
This Friday and Saturday Georgetown will be in Piscataway, N.J. for two matches against BIG EAST rivals. On Friday Georgetown will play Rutgers and then Saturday the Hoyas compete against Providence.
Georgetown vs Howard
Wednesday March 28, 2001
Doubles
1. L. Alami/T. Okpala (HU) d. Marshall/Muckerman (GU) 8-2
2. T. Speas/K. Strickland (HU) d. Botjer/Hom (GU) 8-6
3. Madonia/Bumpass (GU) d. E. Branker/M Moore (HU) 8-1
Team Score after doubles - Howard-1, Georgetown-0
Singles
1. Lamia Alami (HU) d. Marshall (GU) 7-5, 2-6, (10-8)
2. Tanya Okpala (HU) d. Botjer (GU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-3
3. Tiffany Speas (HU) d. Madonia (GU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Kim Strickland (HU) d. Muckerman (GU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Elena Branker (HU) d. Bumpass (GU) 6-4, 6-1
6. Julie Hom (GU) d. Megan Moore (HU) 6-2, 6-1
Team Score from the singles competition- Howard-5, Georgetown-1
Final Score - Howard-6, Georgetown-1
