The College shut out all three conference teams this week, finishing the weekend with a 4-0 record and their 135th consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference victory. The Lions have one more conference game to go and are one win away from another perfect season.
On Wednesday, the women took on William Paterson University shutting out their opponents 9-0. In the six single competitions, the Pioneers scored a mere two games against the College. Four Lion’s athletes won both their sets with 6-0. The College also took the win in all four double competitions. Duo Tara Criscuolo (freshman) and junior Emily Petersack were the only ones to defeat their William Paterson opponents with an impressive 8-0 score.
At the end of the week, Petersack went home with her 50th career win. This is Petersack’s third season playing for the College and her current record is an impressive 50-15, with 34 of the wins being doubles.
“It is really awesome to get 50 wins, especially since I distinctly remember my very first college tennis match that I won,” Petersack said.
Against Richard Stockton College on Saturday morning the Lion’s clinched their third win this season with a final score of 9-0. Of the six singles, four of them were won 6-0,6-0 by Petersack, sophomore Allison Tierney, sophomore Paige Aiello and freshman Tara Criscuolo.
Later that day, Kean University took a hard hit from the College, also ending up 9-0. The College won 6-0, 6-0 in all six single matches. They defeated Kean in all three doubles matches 8-0.
“We pretty much dominate in our conference which is awesome, but then when we play other teams, it can get pretty difficult,” sophomore Paige Aiello said. Aiello says that later in the season, when Lion’s athletes headto the ITA Regional tournament, there will be some tougher competition, “but I think we all look forward to challenging matches because that shows how much we’ve improved and what we can really accomplish.”
This weekend’s doubleheader was good preparation for the ITA Regional tournament. According to Petersack, athletes may have three to four matches a day during the tournament.
On Wednesday, the College will take on Ramapo College as their final NJAC opponent. Petersack says the ladies are going to keep up the positive energy they’ve had all season. The win on Wednesday would mean that that the College would take home the NJAC title for the 28th time in 28 years.
