Women’s Tennis Racks up 43-2 Aggregate Score for the Week’s Matches
By Varun Iyengar '14, Staff Writer
The women’s tennis team got its 2011 season off to a quick start last week. After a successful spring trip to Florida, which included wins over top-ranked Div. I schools, the Jeffs took down Wesleyan in their first official NESCAC match of the year.

The team kept their momentum rolling through the weekend with non-conference wins over Wellesley, Brandeis and Vassar, and their second NESCAC victory of the season over Bates. The Lady Jeffs were so dominant that they only lost two individual matches the entire week — a cumulative record of 43-2.

In Amherst’s first matchup of the week at Wesleyan, the Jeffs swept the singles and doubles matches without dropping a set. Caroline Richman ’13 pulled out an impressive victory, 7-5, 7-5, at No. 1 singles, but that was toughest challenge the Jeffs faced for the day. The team also demonstrated their impressive depth with landslide victories at No. 3-5 singles, dropping six games in those matches cumulatively.

Following their first NESCAC win of the season, the team played two non-conference matches at Wellesley College. The Jeffs first faced off against the home team, defeating Wellesley 8-1 in a matchup that was much closer than the final result indicates.

Three of the six singles matches required a third set to determine a winner and the No. 1 doubles contest went the distance as well. At No. 1 and No. 6 singles respectively, Jordan Brewer ’14 and Charlotte Wilinsky ’11 each came from behind after dropping their first sets to earn impressive victories. Gabby Devlin ’14 and Jordan Brewer ’14 teamed up at No. 1 doubles to squeak out a 9-8 (7-5) victory as well.

The Jeffs finished their trip to Wellesley by facing off against Brandeis and posted another 8-1 victory. Notable among their performances was a hard-fought three-set win by Carlissa King ’11 at No. 3 singles.

The team wrapped up the week with two 9-0 victories at Vassar College. In the first contest, the Jeffs improved to 2-0 in conference play as they defeated Bates College.

In their next matchup, a non-conference contest, the team dismissed Vassar just as easily, as the Jeffs won all singles and doubles matches in straight sets.

The Jeffs get a lengthy break before putting their No. 2 Div. III ranking to the test against Colby on April 16. That matchup represents the beginning of the Jeffs’ toughest stretch of schedule this season. They play six straight NESCAC opponents, including three matches in four days, leading straight into the NESCAC Championships. Given their early-season success, however, the Jeffs look poised to deal handily with their upcoming challenges.

Issue 21, Submitted 2011-04-09 01:13:53