The women’s tennis team season came to an end this weekend with the NESCAC tournament capping an impressive run through the spring season. Unable to recapture the domination that carried them to a record of 8-1 this spring, the team had a fair showing at the final tournament of the year, but mounted no real challenge in the overall team score finishing eighth out of 11 teams. It was an unfitting ending to a spring season that has not been seen round these parts in many years and was nothing short of spectacular.
The tournament, which is a single elimination format, matches up competitors according to their position on the team’s depth chart. The result is individual tournaments with several different divisions within the overall team tournament. Points are awarded for victories in the top three divisions.
“No one on the team played a bad match in the tournament,” said Ashley Brick ’05. “A few us had a good draw to start with. What was really impressive was the win by our #2 doubles team, Sarah Colao ’04 and Tiffany Lo ’05, who beat a Trinity team that they had never beaten before.”
More important than the tourney was the remarkable turnaround this team was able to produce. After an abysmal fall season which ended with a 1-7 record, the Cardinals did a complete 180 degree reversal this spring, piling up win after win. It was a transformation that left the players with deserved satisfaction.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better way to close out my final season,” said co-captain Colao, “The team had a great spring record, we had a blast in Daytona, and I was able to spend time with the sweetest, funniest, and goofiest gals on this campus.”
The transition into a dominant tennis force was a bit unexpected, seeing as how things in the spring were much different than in the fall. Perhaps it was the little shake-ups that occurred that became the catalyst for the improvement.
“There were some changes in between the two seasons,” Brick said. “We lost a player who went abroad and then we got a new coach. Despite these new situations, we were able to pull together as a team and play some great tennis together. All in all, we were very pleased with the spring season; we definitely bounced back from a rather disappointing fall season to finish with a winning record.”
With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, the team had to say goodbye to the two senior captains that fearlessly led them into battle time and time again, Colao and Dina Guth ’04. They have been invaluable players, both on and off the court, and the team will sorely miss them.
“We look forward to the next season, but will definitely feel the loss of the graduation of our two seniors,” Brick said. “Especially Dina, who has anchored the team at both #1 singles and doubles. She will be difficult to replace.” Colao reflected on her time here with an evident fondness that is only reserved for one’s alma mater.
“I’ll miss the team terribly but it brings me comfort knowing that I’m leaving behind a tightly-knit group of ladies with mad tennis skills,” Colao said. “I know they’ll have a great season next year. I just want to thank my girls, the men’s team, and Coach Long and Coach Cutone for making my four years of Wes Tennis a blast.”
Leave a Reply