Nunez Places Second At ITA Northeast Regionals
GENEVA, N.Y. –
Cristina Nunez of the Ithaca College women's tennis team finished second at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northeast Regionals following a back-and-forth three-set championship match Monday afternoon. Nunez dropped the final against Brittany LaBruna of William Paterson 7-5, 6-2, 7-5. The second-place finish for Nunez marked the highest-ever finish for an Ithaca College women's tennis player or doubles team at the ITA Regionals.
In the championship match, Nunez picked up an early break and eventually led 4-1 in the first set before LaBruna rallied back with a break and tied the set 4-4. Nunez held for 5-4, but LaBruna won the last three games of the set. Nunez was strong in the second set, getting a break on LaBruna's first service game, another at 4-2, and then served out the second set to win 6-2.
The back-and-forth swings continued in the third set. An early break turned into a 4-1 lead for LaBruna. After two holds from Nunez and one from LaBruna, the William Paterson-player had a chance to serve out the match at 5-3, but Nunez broke serve to stay alive. Nunez then held for 5-5, and LaBruna held to lead 6-5. Nunez was then broken and LaBruna claimed the regional title.
In Monday morning's semifinal, Nunez won a straight-set match over Yuliya Orkis of Brooklyn College 6-3, 6-4. Nunez earned a first-set break to go up 4-2, then held serve to take a 5-2 lead. Orkis then held serve and Nunez closed out the first set with a hold. In the second set, Nunez fell behind a break and served at 1-4, then held and broke to get back on serve. After Nunez held serve for 4-4, she picked up another break and then served it out for the 6-4 second set. Nunez won the last five games to advance to the finals.
In Sunday's action in the round of 16, Nunez beat Emily Hallewell of Vassar 6-4, 6-0. She went on to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Melissa Hirsch of Skidmore in the quarterfinal round.
In the first round on Saturday, Nunez defeated Georgia Comber of St. Lawrence 6-1, 6-1 and then beat Amanda Rosati of Geneseo 6-1, 6-3 in the second round.