Lifted by sterling play from Carling Donovan, Columbia pulled out two wins this weekend by overcoming the University of Maryland-Baltimore County 4-3 on Friday, and soundly defeating the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 5-2, on Saturday.

The Lions drew first blood against UMBC by taking the doubles point as Donovan and Natalia Christenson dispatched Barbara Couto and Ana Mungo 8-2. Top singles player Nina Suda, playing with freshman Natalia Makarova, sealed the deal with an 8-4 win.

At third singles, Donovan won a crucial three-set match against UMBC’s Cornelia Carapcea, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2. With her team leading UMBC 3-2, Donovan wrested the decisive fourth point from Carapcea.

Against UMass, the results were even more overwhelming. Columbia swept doubles with little difficulty. Donovan and Christenson had the closest match of the day—an 8-6 win against Maude Lecluyse and Lauren MacKay. Stephanie Zilberman and Lauren Shearer flattened their opponents at second doubles, 8-3, and Nina Suda and Natalia Makarova won 8-5 at first doubles.

In singles, the Lions showed strength in the middle of the lineup, notching straight set victories in every match from second to fifth position. Second singles player Sydney Murray had an easy time of it, beating Tanisha Hodgson, 6-0, 6-3. Carling Donovan shined again by scoring a lopsided 6-0, 6-3 win in the fourth slot.

Donovan has been in the zone lately. She has been on a five-match winning streak since the winter season began, with two wins in doubles and three in singles. Head coach Ilene Weintraub sees Donovan as a dangerous all-court player who comes up clutch when the Lions need it most. As things unfold this season, look out for Donovan.
The Lions’ record is now 3-2 overall, counting their shut-out win against Seton Hall in early October. A winning record and strong play from Donovan bode well for the Lions as they prepare for St. John’s next Friday.