FREDERICKSBURG, VA – Sophomore Kristin Alotta and senior captain Grace Baljon notched two wins on the first day of play at the NCAA Singles Tournament and they now advance to the quarterfinal round tomorrow at 9:00 AM on the campus of Mary Washington University.
By advancing to the quarterfinals both Alotta and Baljon earned All-America honors, which for Alotta was a moot point as she had previously earned the distinction in the fall by winning the Northeast ITA singles title.
Alotta, the Ephs #2 singles player opened the day playing Jamie Solomon the #2 player at Pomona and she did not allow Solomon a chance to get on track, recording an efficient 6-2, 6-4 win.
In her second match Alotta was paired with Emory’s number one singles player Zahra Dawson. Dawson is known for a power game that features a big serve, but Alotta was up to the task. Alotta took the first set by winning the tiebreaker 7-6 (8-6) and blanked Dawson in the second set to earn a spot in the quarterfinals.
“Kristin did what she needed to do today and she did a great job adapting to two very different styles,” said Eph head coach Alison Swain. “Jamie is a grinder who forces you to be patient and Zahra is very powerful and aggressive, and Kristin was just consistent all day.”
Baljon’s first opponent of the day was Katie Griffith who plays #1 singles for Trinity University. Baljon, though tired and somewhat banged up from the three-day team competition, opened fast and disposed of Griffith quickly, winning 6-1, 6-2.
Baljon was then paired with the defending NCAA Singles champion Lorne McManigle from Emory who this year played at number two singles for the Eagles. Baljon fought her way to a 7-5 first set win and then blanked McManigle in the second set to collect the win and advance.
“Grace was very patient against McManigle,” said Swain. “Grace took advantage of every opportunity that came to put the ball away, which is hard to do against McManigle.”
Baljon will play Nicole Pontee of Vassar College tomorrow in the quarterfinals, while Alotta will square off against Amherst’s top player Brittany Berkes.
The Eph top doubles duo of Baljon and Taylor French did not fare as well on the day. The Ephs lost their first round match and were eliminated from the doubles tournament. Playing the defending NCAA Division III champions from the University of Chicago, Kendra Higgins and Chrissy Hu, for the second time in three days the Eph tandem was unable to solve the Maroons as they fell 6-4, 6-4.
“You never want to lose, but Grace and Taylor had a good, fun match and I know they’ve enjoyed playing together the past two years,” said Swain. “Higgins and Hu are a very good team. It would have taken a great effort to beat them today.”
On the year Baljon and French went 22-8 and over two years they won 38 matches, while losing just 9 for a .809 winning percentage.
“Overall it was a very good day for Williams tennis and I know that Kristin, Grace and Taylor really appreciated the support of their teammates who stayed around today to cheer them on,” said Swain.
