NORTHAMPTON, MASS. -- In the final day of NEWITTS, the Ephs' team of senior
Yuu Ishikawa and juniors
Annabelle Siegel and
Jane Ladaga became A Flight Consolation champions. In the process, they took down Smith's top pair, relying on their strong doubles and singles depth to claim a win. Play was moved indoors at Smith College due to rain.
In doubles, Ishikawa and Ladaga started slow, going down 0-2 quickly. However, they regrouped to break their opponents and never looked back. The pair would claim the next eight games in a row with their aggressive net play unbalancing the home side for an 8-2 win. They pushed forward relentlessly, combining Ishikawa's slice serve and heavy topspin to create chances that Ladaga put away.
Next, Siegel took the court in singles. She struggled to find openings against an opponent that reflected her pace and covered the court well. Things seemed dire as Siegel found herself down 1-6, 2-5. However, she continued to fight, saving two match points and playing a number of grueling rallies to win the next five games and turn the set around 7-5. The match tiebreak was neck and neck, with a number of long rallies and dramatic points. Ultimately, Siegel fell 9-11.
The championship would then fall to Ladaga at line two, who was playing her eighth match of the weekend. The opponents traded the first five games, before Ladaga broke at 3-2 to take a commanding lead. Ladaga didn't let up, winning the first set 6-2. Using her heavy spin, scrappy defense, and backhand variation, she took the second set 6-2 as well.
With this win, the Ephs took home trophies for A Flight Consolation. Commenting on the weekend, Eph headoach
Anik Cepeda said "We got to play a lot of competitive matches this weekend, and each one will help us find our best tennis in the spring. It was nice to end with a win. We're looking forward to a couple days of rest and our fall dual against Quinnipiac next weekend."
The Ephs will return next Saturday (10/19) for a scrimmage against D1 side Quinnipiac.
Results:
Yuu Ishikawa/
Jane Ladaga (WILL) def. Ayla Hauser/Natazya Simunyola (SMI) 8-2
Ayla Hauser (SMI) def.
Annabelle Siegel (WILL) 6-1, 5-7, 11-9
Jane Ladaga (WILL) def. Natazya Simunyola 6-2, 6-2
