WEST POINT, N.Y. – Navy women's tennis (20-6, 3-0 Patriot League) used strong singles play – winning four of the six singles contests – to edge rival Army (15-6, 4-1 Patriot League) in a 4-3 decision to win the 2019 Star Match at the Malek Tennis Center in West Point, N.Y.
The Midshipmen dropped the doubles point but rallied in singles to win the match. Three of Navy's four singles victories came from freshmen who were facing Army for the first time in their collegiate careers.
"I am so proud of our group of ladies," head coach Keith Puryear said following the match. "Army has a tremendously talented team, so to lose the doubles point and then scrap to win four singles matches was a challenge. I want to thank the fans and families who made the trip to support us. It meant a lot to have friendly faces in the huge crowd who showed up for the match. The atmosphere was electric.
"Annalise [Klopfer] and Aimee [Dervishian] did a tremendous job to get the win at No. 2 doubles but we could not find that other doubles win. In singles, we fought hard at every spot Kaylah [Hodge] and our plebes Kacey [Moore], Meghana [Komarraju] and Katreina [Corpuz] played great in singles to get us the win."
In doubles, the Midshipmen got off to a strong start with a 6-1 win at No. 2 from Aimee Dervishian (Jr., Milton, Ga.) and Annalise Klopfer (Fr., Palm Harbor, Fla.) against Melanie Allen and Ana Joyner.
However, Navy was unable to keep the momentum going as the Black Knights earned a 6-1 victory at No. 3 doubles then a 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles.
Shifting into singles matches, the Midshipmen regained the momentum after winning the first set in five of the six singles contests. Kacey Moore (Fr., Wellington, Fla.) evened the match at No. 6 singles after upending Genevieve McCormick, 6-3, 6-3. At No. 1 singles, Army grabbed a 2-1 lead in the dual following Joyner's straight-set win over Ansofi Wreder (Jr., Miami, Fla.), 6-1, 6-2.
Navy started its run in singles with three-straight victories to clinch the match. Kaylah Hodge (Jr., Upper Marlboro, Md.) squared the match at two with a 6-3, 6-3 victory against Kirby Einck at No. 2 singles. The freshmen pair of Katreina Corpuz(Fr., Ewa Beach, Hawaii) and Meghana Komarraju (Fr., Vienna, Va.) sealed the win after straight-set wins. Corpuz beat Stephanie Dolehide, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 4 singles and Komarraju won a 6-4, 7-5 decision at No. 5 over Paola Bou to clinch the Star for the Midshipmen.
With Navy leading 4-2 and the match in hand, Army won the final match on the court in three sets at No. 3 singles. Klopfer rolled to a 6-1 in the first set, but Caroline Vincent won the second and third sets by the same 7-5 score to make the final score 4-3 in favor of Navy.
The Midshipmen's victory on Saturday has also evened the Army-Navy Star Series, presented by USAA, at nine wins each. Navy has now earned Stars in volleyball, women's soccer, women's cross country, women's swimming & diving, men's swimming & diving, rifle, gymnastics, men's basketball and women's tennis.
