In its home opener of the spring season on Saturday, April 3 the Lions defended home court as they defeated Skidmore College 6-3. The No. 23- ranked Lions proved that the 9-0 loss to No. 13- ranked Johns Hopkins University on Thursday April 1 was not going to hold them back against the No. 24- ranked Thoroughbred.
The Blue Jays (4-6) ended the Lions three-game winning streak, leaving the team’s record at 10-2.
“Hopkins has always been a strong team,” senior Jackie Shtemberg said. “I think that since we have a young team, nerves are playing a big role in these matches.”
In singles, senior Anita Bhamidipati shut out the Lion’s freshman Allison Tierney in two sets, 6-1 and 6-2. Freshmen Candace Wu and Andrea Berlinghof were right behind Bhamidipati, each finishing off their matches against freshmen Lauren Balsamo and Paige Aiello in two sets.
The Lions doubles teams of Aiello and Shtemberg put up a fight, losing to the Blue Jays’ doubles team sophomore Carolyn Warren and Bhamidipati with a close score of 9-7. Sophomore Emily Petersack and Balsamo also finished their doubles match with a close score of 8-6, but sophomores Courtney Boger and Mallory Willenborg of Johns Hopkins University pulled out for the win.
On Saturday, April 3, however, the Lions rallied for a win against Skidmore College in the team’s first home game of the season. Shtemberg came back with two big wins in both singles and doubles. The senior triumphed over the Thoroughbreds’ senior Danika Robinson, defeating her in two sets, both with a score of 6-1, for the win.
Sophomore Felice Trinh joined Shtemberg in the doubles round, taking on freshman Nataly Mendoza and Robinson, finishing the match with a win of 8-4, and setting the Lions up to sweep the competition. Doubles teams of Karisse Bendijo and Tierney, and Petersack and Balsamo, also defeated their opponents with wins of 8-5 and 9-7.
“Although we had a tough loss against Hopkins, we refocused on Saturday,” Shtemberg said.
Senior Stefanie Haar and Balsamo each took home a win in the singles round, as well. Haar beat out the Thoroughbreds’ freshman Brittany Trimble in three sets at sixth singles. Balsamo grabbed a win against Mendoza in two sets at fourth singles.
The win against Skidmore College leaves the Lions with a record of 11-2.
According to Shtemberg the energy and intensity was obvious on the court on Saturday.
“If we continue to keep this up, we could have some great results the rest of the season,” she said
