VILLANOVA, Pa. — The NJIT women's tennis team began its 2023-24 campaign this weekend as it took part in the three-day Villanova Invitational to kick off its Fall prep season. The event put the Highlanders up against competitors from Delaware, Temple, and the host Wildcats.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Irene Cocero was the lone Highlander to go undefeated in single play, winning both her matches across Friday and Saturday. 
• Paula Menendez Alvarez (3-0) and Shalom Salvi (1-0) also went without a loss in doubles play

SINGLES ACTION
FRIDAY - VILLANOVA

• Ami Grace Dougah def. Laura Wipfli, 7-5, 6-1
• Maggie Gehrig def. Sandra Dzhambazov 5-7, 6-3, 10-8
• Miram Gondorova def. Sofia Pinedo 7-5, 6-3
• Shivani Ingle def. Valieriia Kornieva 6-4, 5-7, 10-6
• Shalom Salvi def. Emma Brogan 6-2,1-6, 10-6
• Irene Cocero def. Maddie Hills 7-5, 6-4
• Paula Menendez Alvarez def. Lauren Monti 3-6, 6-2, 13-11
• Bella Steffen def. Feyza Aydin 6-3, 6-4
• Amanda Rivera-González def. Lusia Hepcal Barcan 8-6
• Chloe Floyd def. Asima Sazan 8-3

SATURDAY - DELAWARE

• Slade Coetzee def. Laura Wipfli 6-1, 6-4
• Alex Staiculescu def. Sandra Dzhambazov 6-1, 6-4
• Eliza Askarova def. Shivani Ingle 6-1, 6-2
• Sofia Pinedo def. Maryia Hrynashka 7-6 (3), 6-2
• Irene Cocero def. Julieta Honrubia 6-7 (4), 7-6 (7), 10-6
• Paulina Jurcowska def. Paula Menendez Alvarez 7-5, 6-2
• Katie Dollens def. Feyza Aydin 6-3, 6-3
• Lusia Hepcal Barcan def. Santianna Chrysopoulo 6-4, 6-3

SUNDAY - TEMPLE

• Jessie Zheng def. Laura Wipfli 7-5, 7-6 (4)
• Sandra Dzhambazov def. Samantha Nanere 6-3, 2-6, 10-7
• Marianthi Christoforidou def. Shivani Ingle 6-2, 6-3
• Sofia Pinedo def. Evie Wei 6-1, 6-3
• Sena Takebe def. Shalom Salvi 2-6, 7-5, 10-3
• Paula Menedez Alvarez def. Veda Prapurna 6-4, 6-1

Cocero: 2-0
Pinedo: 2-1
Menendez Alvarez: 2-1
Hepcal Barcan: 1-1
Salvi: 1-1
Dzhambazov: 1-2
Ingle: 1-2
Sazan: 0-1
Aydin: 0-2
Wipfli: 0-3

DOUBLES ACTION
FRIDAY - VILLANOVA

• Miram Gondorova/Ami Grace Dougah def. Laura Wipfli/Irene Cocero 7-6
• Savie Seebald/Chloe Floyd def. Feyza Aydin/Asima Sazan 7-5
• Emi Callahan/Jenna Stevens def. Sandra Dzhambazov/Sofia Pinedo 6-3
• Shivani Ingle/Paula Menendez Alvarez def. Emma Brogan/Valieriia Kornieva 7-5

SATURDAY - DELAWARE

• Alex Staiculescu/Eliza Askarova def. Shivani Ingle/Irene Cocero 6-3
• Slade Coetzee/Paulina Jurcowska def. Sofia Pinedo/Sandra Dzhambazov 6-1
• Laura Wipfli/Paula Menendez Alvarez def. Samantha Svendsen/Julieta Honrubia 6-3
• Maryia Hrynashka/Santianna Chrysopoulo def. Feyza Aydin/Lusia Hepcal Barcan 7-5

SUNDAY - TEMPLE

• Samantha Nanere/Jessie Zheng def. Laura Wipfli/Irene Cocero 6-4
• Sofia Pinedo/Shalom Salvi def. Evie Wei/Sena Takebe 6-4
• Shivani Ingle/Paula Menedez Alvarez def. Marianthi Christoforidou/Veda Prapurna 6-2

Menendez Alvarez: 3-0 
Salvi: 1-0
Menendez Alvarez: 2-1
Ingle: 2-1
Salvi: 1-1
Wipfli: 1-2
Pinedo: 1-2
Hepcal Barcan: 0-1
Sazan: 0-1
Aydin: 0-2
Dzhambazov: 0-2
Cocero: 0-3

NEXT UP
NJIT will continue Fall action at the three-day Army West Point Invitational, from September 22-25.