Sports
Women’s tennis looks to continue strong play
By Jack Vissiccio ’17
April 10, 2015
The women’s tennis team got their spring season off to a fast start this March, earning a their second straight victory against Colby College, 7-2.
The Mules found themselves overmatched from the start, as the Continental women, led by the strong efforts of Liz Detwiler ’15 and Carrie Uhlein ’15, swept doubles. In singles, Isabella Schoning ’16, after being abroad this fall, picked off right where she left off, winning her fourth flight singles match 6-0, 6-2. To cap off the victory, Mira Khanna ’15 had the most exciting match of the day, wining 10-4 in the super tiebreak after splitting the first two sets.
The women then quickly moved on to their spring trip in Florida, where they where unfortunately unable to build on their winning record. They suffered tough defeats against Franklin and Marshall, #25 Hope College, and #37 St. Lawrence University, but were able to gain victories against Goucher College and SUNY New Paltz. Rachel Friedman ’17 had a strong spring trip for the Women, compiling back to back singles victories against nationally ranked Hope College and St. Lawrence University. Friedman’s victory against St. Lawrence moved her into a tie for fourth place on the women’s all-time career singles list.
Once the girls returned home from spring break, she continued to lead the women with her strong play, as both Friedman and the team won back to back matches against RIT and SUNY Oneonta. These victories helped the team improve to a record of 10-3 on the season, while also improving Freidman’s singles record to a team best 11-2 on the season.
The women have just started to enter the brunt of their NESCAC schedule, as they suffered a difficult defeat against the Middlebury women’s team at home, 9-0.
Currently, the Continentals are in the middle of four home matches. These matches will prove to be crucial as they prepare for their final NESCAC matchups. Next, the women will look to rebound against New York University on April 10 at home.
Although the women sit at 10-4 on the season they are only 1-1 in the NESCAC play thus far. All three NESCAC matchups that remain: Trinity, Connecticutt College and Wesleyan are winnable and can push the Continentals towards the top of the NESCAC.
The Continentals are four wins away from tying their program record of 14 wins last season, and this record is in their sight with two of their NESCAC opponents holding records under .500.
While the women’s tennis team has been succesful over the course of the season, these next few weeks will be a good test in proving their NESCAC dominance.