Feb. 4, 2012
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army 18th-year women’s tennis head coach Paul Peck collected his 300th career win on Saturday when the Black Knights defeated Seton Hall, 6-1, at Lichtenberg Tennis Center. The victory marked the third in a row for Army which completed the weekend home sweep to improve to 3-1 on the season. The Pirates fell to 0-1 with the loss.
“It means I’ve been here a long time!,” joked Peck when asked of his distinguishing accomplishment. “I’ve been coaching a long time but I’ve been lucky enough to have great athletes. I’m really proud of my girls for helping me get there. The team we have now is young but they really step up and support each other which is great to see. It never gets old.”
With a career mark of 300-163 (.648), Peck is the winningest coach in Army women’s tennis history, earning more victories than the Black Knights’ seven mentors to coach at Army prior to his arrival in the spring of 1995.
As for the match, the Black Knights swept the doubles matches for the third time in a row, highlighted by the 11th win of the season for sophomore Della Taylor and freshman sister Elle Taylor. The pair improved to 11-4 this season with an 8-1 victory over Chloe Sher and Rocio Portela at the No. 1 spot.
Both Taylors, along with sophomores Jamila Paul and Margaret Iliev, and freshman Natalie Allen went on to win their singles matches as well. Allen collected her team-best 11th solo win of the year with a 6-3, 6-0 topping of Karina Cordero at the No. 5 position.
Army improved to 8-9 all-time against the Pirates, to include three straight victories.
Up next for the Black Knights, Army will host its second weekend tripleheader in a row when Stony Brook, Connecticut and Fordham venture to Lichtenberg Tennis Center Feb. 10-12.
Army 6, Seton Hall 1
Doubles
1 D. Taylor/E. Taylor (A) def. Sher/Portela, 8-1
2 Colton/Paul (A) def. Verow/Shoemaker, 8-3
3 Iliev/Riney (A) def. Cordero/Kilarski, 8-3
Singles
1. Chloe Sher (SHU) def. Erin Colton, 6-0, 7-6 (7-4)
2. Jamila Paul (A) def. Rocio Portela, 6-4, 6-1
3. Margaret Iliev (A) def. Elizabeth Verow, 6-3, 6-2
4. Della Taylor (A) def. Madison Shoemaker, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0
5. Elle Taylor (A) def. Karina Cordero, 6-1, 6-4
6. Natalie Allen (A) def. Maria Rodriguez, 6-3, 6-0
