Yellow Jackets Rally for 5-4 Triumph Over Gophers

WAYNESBURG, Pa. — Goucher needed to come up with four wins in singles play today in order to pull out a victory over Waynesburg, but managed only three as the Yellow Jackets prevailed 5-4 over head coach Sally Baum's Gophers this afternoon.

Winners during the singles competition for Goucher were Amanda Bercovici (Hackensack, N.J./Bergen Tech) at No. 1, Emily Ruff (Easton, Md./Easton) at No. 4 and Ryan Derham (San Anselmo, Calif./Sir Francis Drake) at No. 6. Bercovici improved to 9-1 in singles play this season by knocking off Rachel Klemash 6-1, 6-0, while Ruff disposed of Madison DuBrock 6-2, 6-2 and Derham recorded a 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Rachel Wilson.

A win at No. 3 singles would have put the Gophers (2-2) over the top, but instead the Yellow Jackets (11-4) used a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory by Sarah Reyes over Alice Goldstein-Plesser (Durham, N.C./Durham School of the Arts) to pull into a 4-4 tie overall.

The match came down to No. 2 singles, the only singles match to go past two sets. Goucher's Kirsten Cianci (Bolton, Conn./Bolton) grabbed the opening set, but couldn't finish off Markie Gustafson, who rallied for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win.

Goucher's only successful outcome in doubles play was courtesy of Derham and Hanora Barron (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) at No. 3. They recorded an 8-1 victory over Reyes and Brooke Larson.