WILLIAMSTOWN, MA. - After defeating a then
top-ranked Amherst squad on April 18 as the number two team in the
nation, Williams women's tennis (16-2, 7-0 NESCAC) now sits
atop the recently released polls as the number one ranked team in
Division III. The Ephs continue to solidify their status as
the top team, sweeping a doubleheader today against conference
opponents, Hamilton (3-12, 0-7) and Trinity (7-5, 3-3).
“I think more than any other year we are ready to handle
being number one going into the postseason,” said Williams
head coach Alison Swain. “We have played six of the
teams currently ranked in the top ten in the country, and we know
they are working hard and getting better as well and so are we and
we feel good.”
Williams has played #2 Amherst, #3 Chicago, #4 Emory, #6
Washington and Lee, #7 Pomona-Pitzer, and #10 Carnegie
Mellon. The Ephs have won all six matches, and as a
result, feel extremely confident as the number one team heading
into post season competition.
Today, the Ephs played under sunny skies and delivered brilliant
results on the courts. The first match of the day began at
10:00 am against Hamilton. Williams mixed up their doubles
and singles lineup a bit, but the results were the same as
usual.
Grace Baljon and Taylor French stayed as the top pair, winning
8-2. Caroline Capute and Lucy Marchese are usually teammates
as well, but were bumped up one court to court two. The two
handled their competition with ease in an 8-1 showing. Nancy
Worley and Katie Friedman made their first appearance at court
three together, and delivered an 8-1 win. The Ephs swept
singles play as well taking all six matches in straight sets.
Williams had a short breather before returning to the courts to
take on Trinity in their second match up of the day. With
their normal lineup in tact, the Ephs cruised through doubles
play. Kristin Alotta and Nikki Reich won their match quickly
in eight straight games, while the other Ephs duos followed shortly
in 8-3 wins.
The Ephs completed an all day sweep of singles play with another
lineup of straight set victories. Marchese had an especially
good day at court four, dominating in a 6-0, 6-0 result.
“It was a beautiful tennis day, and we had tons of parent
support today,” continued Swain. “While it was a
long day, it was extremely fun to have so much support and great
weather.”
Williams will attempt to close out conference play with an
undefeated record tomorrow when they host Little Three competition
Wesleyan at 11:30 a.m. A win tomorrow would not only land
them a #1 seed in the NESCAC tournament, but it would also give the
Ephs their first Little Three title since 2008.
Williams 9, Hamilton 0-
Doubles:
1) Grace Baljon/Taylor French (W) def. Laura
Brantley/Vrinda Hanna (H) --- 8-2
2) Caroline Capute/Lucy Marchese (W) def. Alex
Arenson/Melissa Mann (H) ---- 8-1
3) Nancy Worley/Katie Freidman (W) def. Deborah
Barany/Amelia Mattern (H) --- 8-1
Singles:
1) Kristin Alotta (W) def. Barany (H) --- 6-3, 6-0
2) Nikki Reich (W) def. Brantley (H) --- 6-2, 6-1
3) Ashley Parsons (W) def. Khanna (H) --- 6-1, 7-5
4) Katie Freidman (W) def. Arenson (H) --- 6-1, 6-0
5) Taylor French (W) def. Mattern (H) --- 6-0, 6-1
6) Veranika Li (W) def. Mann (H) --- 6-2, 6-0
Williams 9, Trinity 0
Doubles:
1) Grace Baljon/Taylor French (W) def. Hillary
Hoyt/Olivia Merns (T) --- 8-3
2) Kristin Alotta/Nikki Reich (W) def. Kelsey
Semrod/Frances Cameron (T) --- 8-0
3) Caroline Capute/Lucy Marchese (W) def. Jillian
Steckloff/Arielle Leben (T) ---
8-3
Singles:
1) Baljon (W) def. Hoyt (T) --- 6-0, 7-5
2) Alotta (W) def. Steckloff (T) --- 6-4, 6-1
3) Reich (W) def. Semrod (T) --- 6-4, 6-1
4) Marchese (W) def. Leben (T) --- 6-0, 6-0
5) Nancy Worley (W) def. Cameron (T) --- 6-1, 6-2
6) Capute (W) def. Kristina Pappas (T) --- 6-1, 6-2
Exhibition:
7) Parsons (W) def. Schulyer Livingston (T) --- 6-0,
6-1
8) Katie Friedman (W) def. Lydia Kay (T) --- 6-0,
6-0
9) Veranika Li (W) def Paige Warren-Shriner (T) ---
6-3, 6-2
