Box Score

Purchase, NY (Sept. 6, 2012) – Doubles shined on Day 1, lifting Purchase women's tennis into the win column in the program's season opener against Baruch College on Thursday.

The Panthers topped the non-conference Bearcats, 6-3, utilizing a sweep of doubles to do so. The home and season opener was a bit tougher than expected. Purchase, which had defeated Baruch 8-1 last fall, battled in singles after racing out to a commanding 3-0 lead.

But a split in singles play yielded the 6-3 final as the Bearcats captured victories at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 6 singles.

For the Panthers, the team's doubles play clearly provided an early boost. The tandem of newcomer Ana Stan (FR/Doncaster, VIC), a star international recruit from Australia, and All-Skyline returnee Moriah Ormsby (JR/Montebello, NY) teamed for an 8-6 hard-fought win at No. 1 doubles. Stan, who features a tremendous forehand and power serve, provided a nice compliment to Ormsby and her terrific touch around the net.

Purchase (1-0), which also hasn't ruled out a possible return for former No. 1 Gabriella Marden this season, likes the core nucleus it has in place, coupled with the program's few new, incoming standouts, especially Stan. The freshman Aussie played well in first-ever collegiate action, bringing a tenacious feel to the top of the order.

Meanwhile, Ormsby and fellow All-Skyline returner Melissa Siller (SO/Roslyn Heights, NY) picked up right where they left off a year ago, shining bright on the hard courts. Siller collected two key victories, teaming with Chelsea Quinn (JR/Southold, NY) for an 8-6 win at second doubles, and spearheading the singles play by earning an impressive 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 3.

Purchase capped the doubles in an 8-1 breeze thanks to Ashley Bernhardt (JR/Bethpage, NY) and newcomer Lilly Murray (JR/New Canaan, CT).

In singles, Stan would fall 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1, as Baruch's Patricia G. Correia gave the visitors a spark. Second-singles player A. Le Goupil-Maier followed with a 6-3, 6-1 win against Ormsby as the Bearcats made things interesting late. But with Siller's victory and another important win from Bernhardt at No. 4 – a straight sets, 6-0, 6-0 finish – the Panthers maintained just enough space to pull out the win.

The middle of the order was on point for the hosts. Quinn added a 7-6 (7-4), 5-10, 7-3 super tiebreak victory at No. 5.

The Panthers, which dropped Baruch to 0-1, will now travel to Bard Saturday, looking to make it two straight.