WILLIAMSTOWN, MA. – Returning from a very successful spring break campaign in which the Williams women’s tennis went undefeated against top-ranked Division III competition, the Ephs posted another victory this afternoon against another top-25 squad in their first match on the home courts.
#2 Williams (9-2) came out the gate slow in singles play, but pushed through to defeat #23 The College of New Jersey, 7-2.
“There is a change in momentum and adjusting to being back in school and having more practice time,” said Williams’ head coach Alison Swain. “We came out a little slower in singles than we have been, but everyone was able to pull through in the end.”
Williams’ doubles pairs at courts two and three took care of business early in the match. Kristin Alotta and Nikki Reich posted an 8-4 win over their TCNJ opponents, while Caroline Capute and Lucy Marchese tallied the same score at court three over their competition. Grace Baljon and Taylor French battled at court one against Jackie Shtemberg and Felice Trinh, but eventually fell in the tiebreak, 9-8(4).
Alotta and Reich had equal success in singles play. Alotta cruised to a 6-3, 6-0 straight set win at court two, while Reich defeated Stephanie Haar at court three by a 6-3, 6-3 margin. Newcomers to the Ephs singles ladder this year, freshman Nancy Worley and sophomore Caroline Capute, also won in straight sets at courts five and six, respectively.
With the match already decided, Baljon and Marchese played third set super tiebreakers. Marchese closed out her second set and breaker, rebounding from a first set disappointment. Baljon fell in her breaker after coming back into the match in the second set.
“TCNJ is a great team,” continued Swain. “We haven’t played them in 10 years and it was a great experience for us and they pushed us. We did a fantastic job to come back and win in singles.”
Williams will have one week off before their first taste of conference play. The Ephs travel to Tufts on Saturday, April 17 at 1:00 p.m.
Williams 7, TCNJ 2
Doubles-
1) Jackie Shtemberg/Felice Trinh (TCNJ) def. Grace Baljon/Taylor French (W) --- 9-8 (4)
2) Kristin Alotta/Nikki Reich (W) def. Allie Tierney/ Karisse Bendijo (TCNJ) --- 8-4
3) Carolina Capute/Lucy Marchese (W) def. Emily Petersack/Lauren Balsamo (TCNJ) --- 8-4
Singles-
1) Shtemberg (TCNJ) def. Baljon (W) --- 7-6(4), 2-6, 10-4
2) Alotta (W) def. Bendijo (TCNJ) --- 6-3, 6-0
3) Reich (W) vs. Stephanie Haar (TCNJ) ---6-3, 6-2
4) Marchese (W) vs. Balsamo (TCNJ) --- 5-7, 6-4, 10-5
5) Nancy Worley (W) def. Paige Aiello (TCNJ) --- 7-5, 6-2
6) Capute (W) def. Petersack (TCNJ) --- 6-4, 6-1
