By Tyler Morello
Staff Writer
The College’s women’s tennis team clinched the top spot in the New Jersey Athletic Conference as they improved to 4-0 in conference play while also picking up some out-of-conference wins over the weekend.
Before rattling off a four-game win streak, they faced No. 58 Haverford College on Thursday, April 3, and came up just short, losing 4-3.
The Lions got off to a great start, sweeping the doubles matches and winning all three relatively comfortably. The duos of sophomore Zoey Albert and freshman Shruti Mannan, and senior Aira Abalos and freshman Anusha Perinkolam were each victorious 6-3. Freshman Elizabeth Ring and sophomore Gabriella Robinson won 6-2.
Despite controlling the doubles matches, the Lions were only able to grab two wins in singles play, as Robinson and freshman Gabrielle Brideau came away with wins in their matches.
After losing tightly to a talented Haverford squad, the Lions answered with four straight victories with a combined score of 28-0.
Beginning their busy weekend was a conference match against Stockton University at the College’s Rec Center on Saturday, April 5. The Lions handed the Ospreys a statement 7-0 win with none of the matches being too difficult for the College.
The Lions dominated the Ospreys, who were short-handed with only five players, leading to forfeits at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles. The College capitalized, dropping only one game across the doubles matches and a total of three in the singles matches.
In singles play, Mannan, Ring and Robinson all shut out their opponents en route to 6-0 wins in two sets.
This victory secured the New Jersey Athletic Conference regular-season championship for the College as Stockton was fighting for first place as well.
The following day, the Lions played a doubleheader against No. 60 SUNY New Paltz and Drew University, winning both contests 7-0.
The College faced some adversity against New Paltz, as the matches did not come as easy as they did against Stockton. Albert and Mannan showed grit in their doubles match, winning 7-6 and 7-5 in the tiebreaker set.
Abalos and Perinkolam won 6-4 in a back-and-forth match, while Ring and Robinson were able to control their match in a 6-3 triumph.
The Lions had only one singles match get closer than an 8-4 defeat as Ring put together a tough fight in her match, winning 8-7 and 7-3 in the tiebreaker.
The College’s matchup against Drew came much easier for the Lions. None of the doubles matches finished tighter than a 6-3 win in favor of the Lions, and the closest margin of victory in the singles matches was Albert winning 8-3.
Their other New Jersey Athletic Conference match was on Wednesday, April 9, against William Paterson University, who was no match for the overpowering Lions. They won 7-0 and did not drop a single game in any of the matches.
There are a few more matches left before the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament begins, so the Lions will have the opportunity to refine their skills in time for the playoffs. They have a key matchup on Saturday, April 12, against No. 36 University of Rochester, which should prove to be a mighty test for the College, which is currently ranked No. 66.
