Last home match for Pitt tennis a big draw in Wexford

Alex Santos could handle the difficult logistics surrounding his team, even if he had to drive 30 minutes for home matches.

Pitt’s women’s tennis coach didn’t complain publicly. He just rolled up his sleeves and went to work, trying and often succeeding to find players on four continents to build a roster for the only team in the ACC without an on-campus facility.

Even 79 defeats in 80 conference matches since joining the ACC for the 2013-14 academic year didn’t deter him. He knew on most days his team fought hard in the face of long odds — such as Sunday in a 7-0 loss to North Carolina, the second-ranked team in the nation, at Oxford Athletic Club in Wexford.

But when the Pitt administration announced in January that women’s tennis would be eliminated after the season — the first sport cut by the university since men’s tennis and gymnastics in 1995 — there was one sight that was difficult for him to watch.

“I love these girls. I love this program. I love this school,” said Santos, Pitt’s coach since 2013. “It was extremely difficult to see seven girls crying and me not being able to do what I want to do for them.

“From the beginning of the season, it was weird because you know you will be fighting for something that will end. That’s not easy to do. But I think the girls have been doing a fantastic job.”

The walkway overlooking the indoor tennis courts at Oxford was filled with spectators for an 11 a.m. start Sunday. Several administrators, including senior associate athletic director Bethany Wagner, attended the final home match, along with athletes from other Pitt sports.

Athletic director Heather Lyke was out of town, but she issued a statement.

“Sunday was certainly an emotional day for everyone associated with our women’s tennis program,” she said. “Although this will be the team’s final season, our tennis student-athletes — past and present — will always be members of our Pitt Athletics family.

“Discontinuing the program was an extremely difficult decision but also a necessary one to ensure opportunities for growth and success for our future student-athletes. We remain steadfastly committed to providing the finest student-athlete experience possible.”

Despite the won/loss record, senior Gabriela Rezende enjoyed her time with the program.

“Being part of Pitt tennis for the past four years was one of the best things that happened to me,” said Rezende, a native of Brazil. “I felt very welcome when I came here.”

The team forged tight bonds, with all seven players coming from outside the U.S., including three from Spain and one each from Japan, Argentina and Venezuela.

“We’re all internationals so we are very, very close, having our families not here in the U.S.” Rezende said. “Listening to that news got us a little upset, but we came together because everyone had the same goal.”

Sophomore Claudia Bartolome, who is transferring to SMU, said the news was unexpected. But it also taught her a lesson.

“It’s life, and we have to keep going,” she said.

She also was a bit confused when she was told one of the reasons for cutting the program was the lack of a favorable student-athlete experience without an on-campus home.

“The reasons, I don’t think they are good reasons, to be honest,” she said. “If you want the program to continue, you can do it. We didn’t feel that support.

“I was having a good experience here. I know it’s better if (facilities) are close, but if you want to play …”

There is some perception the team’s lack of success contributed to the sport’s elimination, but Santos disputed that.

“I wasn’t told that. I don’t believe that,” he said. “The way it was communicated to me, the program was being cut. I don’t think I had any alternative.”

Pitt’s loss to North Carolina dropped its record to 4-13, 0-10 in the ACC. North Carolina earned straight-set victories on all but two courts. Pitt sophomore Camila Moreno and freshman Mariona Perez Noguera forced a third set before losing.

Among those in attendance was former WPIAL tennis champion Jose Raymundo, a Seneca Valley graduate who played at Notre Dame and went to graduate school at Pitt. He said he is sorry to see his favorite spectator sport disappear from the region.

“I’m sure there is stuff happening behind the scenes that I’m not privy to, nor do I want to be,” he said, “but even certain Pitt alumni here that I know (said), ‘Good luck seeing a dime from me.’

“Tennis is a great sport, sport of a lifetime. It’s not a dying sport like everyone thinks it is.”

He said he understands the difficulty of finding and/or constructing an on-campus facility.

“I totally get that there’s nothing on campus, and Oakland is a tough real estate market because I’m in commercial real estate,” he said. “That’s not a very good reason. Sad day.”

Jody Frey, whose daughter Callie played at Pitt and Mt. Lebanon, attends many matches.

Asked what she will do to get her tennis fix, she said, “Cry.”