Amherst, Mass. - The St. Johns University womens tennis team lost the closest match with UMASS in years, 3-4. The deciding match was No. 2 singles freshman Tessa Lewis (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada) against Stephanie Price of UMASS. Lewis played with valiant effort but lost in the three tough sets, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

The Red Storm took an early lead after winning 3 of the 6 singles matches. At No. 1 singles sophomore Nataliya Kostova (Bulgaria/Bethune) defeated Jafra Depontes, 7-6, 6-2. At No. 5 singles sophomore Olga Romanidis (Kew Gardens, N.Y.) beat Alllison Haenbuch, 7-6, 6-2. At No. 6 singles freshman Jennifer Liantonio (West Hempstead) defeated Ashley Smith, 6-3, 6-3.

At No. 3 singles senior Corina Cetateanu (Forest Hills, N.Y.) lost to UMASS Helena Horak, 6-2, 6-3. At. No. 4 singles senior Vera Efstathiou (Whitestone, N.Y.) lost a close game to Susan Hyams, 6-4, 7-5. In doubles action Kostova and Lewis lost in number one doubles to Horak and Hyams, 8-4. Efstathiou and Cetateanu played a great game against Depontes and Price and won, 8-1. Romanidis and Liantonio also defeated Hagenbuch and Smith, 8-1.

St. Johns womens tennis team returns to action April 10 at 3:00pm against Stonybrook.