By Tyler Morello
Staff Writer
The College’s men’s and women’s tennis teams took to the courts for a busy weekend of competition from March 28 to 30, with both teams putting up strong performances in their respective matchups.
The women's team cruised to some dominant New Jersey Athletic Conference wins against Kean and Rutgers-Camden, while dropping their non-conference game against Ithaca. The men's team won their lone contest with a solid home victory against Ithaca.
The Lions’ women’s team opened their NJAC slate with a commanding 7-0 win over Kean University. The team set the tone early in doubles, sweeping all three courts without dropping a game.
At No. 1 doubles, sophomore Zoey Albert and freshman Shruti Mannan defeated Kean’s top pair 6-0, while senior Aira Abalos and freshman Anusha Perinkolam matched that score at No. 2. Freshman Elizabeth Ring and sophomore Gabriella Robinson completed the sweep with a 6-0 win at No. 3.
In singles play, the Lions only conceded one game throughout the combined six matches. Albert, Mannan, Abalos, Ring and Robinson each swept their matches 6-0. Freshman Gabrielle Brideau won her match 6-1, 6-0.
In a hard-fought match with three singles matches going to tiebreakers, the College came up just short against Ithaca in a 4-3 loss. The Lions started strong, sweeping doubles to take the first point. Albert and Mannan won 7-5, Abalos and Perinkolam won 6-4, and Ring and Robinson won 6-2.
Despite the slow start, Ithaca fought back in singles to win four of six matches. Robinson and Brideau were able to come through for the Lions, while the rest came up just short in back-and-forth matches.
Returning to action on Saturday, the men's team defended their home courts with a 5-2 win over Ithaca. They were able to get the best of the Bombers in doubles play, winning two of the three matches.
Junior Harrison Maitland-Carter won his singles match 6-3, 6-2, while junior Alberto Thomas scraped by his opponent, winning in a nailbiter 7-5, 7-6 in a tiebreaker. Junior Olufela Fieulleteau comfortably won his matchup 6-0, 6-2, while sophomore Aidan Twamley fought back in his match after losing the first set to win in three sets.
Following their loss to Ithaca, the women’s team returned to NJAC play and bounced back with a 7-0 sweep over Rutgers-Camden. They only surrendered two sets to the Scarlet Raptors, dominating in each of the three matches.
Albert, Mannan, Abalos, Ring, Robinson and Brideau all won in straight sets, securing the victory for the Lions. The women’s team moved to 4-4 while the men’s team improved to 5-3 as we approach the midway point of the season.
