The St. John’s men’s and women’s tennis teams ended their 2008 spring seasons on Sunday with identical sixth-place finishes in the Big East Tournament in Tampa, Fla.
The men’s squad began the tournament with a loss to No. 2 seeded Louisville on Friday by the score of 4-1.
With the loss to Louisville, the Red Storm went on to play No. 6 Georgetown in the consolation bracket on Saturday. After dropping the first match in doubles, St. John’s went on to take doubles matches Nos. 2 and 3 to clinch the doubles point for St. John’s.
The Johnnies dominated Georgetown in singles play, winning all of the singles matches for a 4-0 sweep.
St. John’s continued Sunday against No. 4 Marquette in a match to decide the tournament’s fifth-place finisher. The Red Storm did not get off to a good start. They dropped all three doubles matches to Marquette.
St. John’s couldn’t turn it around in singles play either. They were swept, ending their season with a 4-0 loss. The Red Storm men’s team finished with an 11-12 overall record.
The women’s tennis team began the tournament with a 4-3 win over No. 10 West Virginia on Thursday.
Alison Adamski and Emily Barnett began with a win in No. 1 doubles, but the Red Storm dropped Nos. 2 and 3 to lose the doubles point.
In singles, Maria Zivcicova and Alison Adamski led the march with wins at Nos. 1 and 2 respectively.
After dropping the singles No. 3 match, St. John’s put together another rally. Mariana Chachua took the No. 4 match in straight sets (6-1, 6-4) and Ira Aleksova clinched the win for St. John’s, also in straight sets (6-2, 6-1).
The Red Storm continued their quest for the Big East title on Friday but their plans were halted with a loss to No. 2 Louisville, 4-1.
St. John’s continued Saturday in the consolation bracket and won against No. 6 Syracuse, 4-2.
The doubles team of Adamski and Barnett once again took their No. 1 doubles match. Ira Aleksova and Maria Zivcicova took No. 2 and clinched the doubles point for St. John’s.
The Red Storm grew their comfortable lead when they won the singles Nos. 1 and 2 matches. Syracuse made things interesting when they came back to take Nos. 3, 4 and 5. With the game tied, St. John’s freshman Jenny Yonkus came through with a win at No. 6 in straight sets (6-4, 6-3).
The St. John’s women’s team concluded their season with a 4-1 loss to No. 4 Marquette on Sunday.
The women’s team finished the season with an overall record of 12-12.
