EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The LIU women's tennis team took down a BIG TEN team on the road Friday afternoon, beating Rutgers, 4-3.
 
"This was really exciting to watch," head coach Jan Griga said, "This team just continues to impress me. The talent, the grit, the determination – it's all there, and it's showing. I can't wait to see how far we can take it this season."
 
SHARK BITES

• Valentina Dancenco and Sofiya Kuzina had a 6-3 win in the No. 1 doubles spot, but Rutgers would take the doubles point with wins in the Nos. 2 and 3 spots.
• With the Scarlet Knights leading 1-0 heading in to singles, Dancenco had a win that would tie things up. She beat Sydney Kaplan at No. 3 singles, 6-1, 6-3, to put match score at 1-1.
• Rutgers would retake the lead with wins at Nos. 5 and 4 singles, 3-1, but with their backs to the wall, LIU battled back.
• Victoria Erechtchenko had a win at No. 2 singles, where she beat Jackeline Lopez, 6-4, 6-2. Then Kate Jorjoliani beat Kristina Zahare in the No. 6 spot, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, to tie the match up, 3-3.
• It was Kuzina who had the deciding win, in a hard-fought battle at No.1 singles. She was taking on Tess Fisher, and the pair went the distance. Kuzina came out on top, 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2), to clinch the 4-3 win for LIU.

LIU 4, Rutgers 3
 
Doubles competition
1. Valentina Dancenco/Sofiya Kuzina (LIU) def. Fisher, Tess/Kim, Minchae (RU) 6-3
2. Zahare, Kristiana/Lopez, Jackeline (RU) def. Victoria Erechtchenko/Elinor Storkaas (LIU) 7-5
3. Kaplan, Sydney/Cardenas, Daira (RU) def. Phoebe Watton/Bianca Compuesto (LIU) 6-4
 
Singles competition
1. Sofiya Kuzina (LIU) def. Fisher, Tess (RU) 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2)
2. Victoria Erechtchenko (LIU) def. Lopez, Jackeline (RU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Valentina Dancenco (LIU) def. Kaplan, Sydney (RU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Kim, Minchae (RU) def. Bianca Compuesto (LIU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Cardenas, Daira (RU) def. Elinor Storkaas (LIU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Kate Jorjoliani (LIU) def. Zahare, Kristiana (RU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
 
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2*); Singles (3,5,4,2,6,1)