BETHPAGE N.Y. – The LIU women's tennis team welcomed the FIU Panthers on Friday afternoon for their first home dual match of the 2022 spring season. The two teams battled it out at Sporttime Bethpage's indoor facility, where the Sharks fell to the Panthers, 4-0.
 
LIU picked up a win at the No. 2 doubles spot with Valentina Dancenco and Sofiya Kuzina taking down the Panthers duo comprised of Yasmine Kabbaj and Ines Vekrar 6-2. But FIU claimed the doubles point with wins at Nos. 1 and 3, and then had three singles wins at Nos. 6, 3 and 2 singles, to clinch the match win, 4-0, and leave the remaining matches unfinished.

Storkaas won the first set at No. 5 singles and was knotted up at 5-5 in the second, and Dancenco had taken set one to a tiebreaker at No. 4 singles before the  match was halted.
 
"It was a good showing from us today," head coach Jan Griga said. "Our goal was to bring good energy and rise to the occasion against a very solid team, and we did exactly that. We fought and battled hard on all courts. Overall, a lot of positives to take away from today, along with some things to work on going forward. We are looking to bounce back strong against Hofstra tomorrow."
 
The Sharks are back in action tomorrow at 7 p.m., when they welcome cross-county rivals Hofstra University to the courts at Sportime in Bethpage.
 
FIU 4, LIU 0
 
Doubles

1. Kamila Umarova/Andjela Skrobonja (FIU) def. Victoria Erechtchenko/Elinor Storkaas (LIU) 6-1
2. Valentina Dancenco/Sofiya Kuzina (LIU) def. Yasmine Kabbaj/Ines Vekrar (FIU) 6-2
3. Kristina Miletic/Andreea Velcea (FIU) Def. Bianca Compuesto/Jasmine Maduel (LIU) 6-2

Order of Finish - 2, 1, 3* 
 
Singles

1. Victoria Erechtchenko (LIU) vs. Kamila Umarova (FIU) 2-6, 4-4 (DNF)
2. Yasmine Kabbaj (FIU) def. Bianca Compuesto (LIU) 7-5, 6-2
3. Andjela Skrobonja (FIU) def. Sofiya Kuzina (LIU) 6-3,6-1
4. Valentina Dancenco (LIU) vs. Andreea Velcea (FIU) 6-7 (5), 3-2 (DNF)
5. Elinor Storkaas (LIU) vs. Ines Vekrar (FIU) 7-5, 5-5 (DNF)
6. Kristina Miletic (FIU) def. Kate Jorjoliani (LIU) 6-2,6-1

Order of Finish: 6, 3, 2*