The Wesleyan women’s tennis match, with the outcome hanging on the last set of the night, was postponed on Tuesday at Trinity College due to the looming darkness, making visibility low and tension high.
The score was tied at 4-4 when Sarah Connell ’05, the last competitor of the match (fifth-seeded singles competitor), took the court ready to lead her team to a victory. After winning the first set 7-5, Connell had the momentum to win take the match in the next set. Unfortunately the next set was that of the sun, leaving the match unfinished, and the Cardinals with a tie. The tie leaves the Cardinals with a 0-5-1 record for the fall season.
In the hopes of breaking their five-game losing streak, the Cardinals may reschedule the final match for a later date yet to be undetermined, in order to decide a winner.
“The overall match against Trinity was very intense – we really went in with the idea that not only was a win a possibility, but it was going to be a reality,” said Megan Henderson ’06.
Every game of Henderson’s match on Tuesday went to deuce, but she ended up falling to Trinity’s opposing sixth-seeded player.
“I think one thing our team is really working hard on is learning to win the right points,” Henderson said. “I know in my match I just couldn’t pull out the adds, therefore couldn’t win the points. I think this is true for a lot of our girls.”
In her doubles match however, Henderson turned the tables, partnering with Victoria Santoro ’07 at the second doubles spot to add a point on the Cardinal side with an 8-6 victory. Another double-Cardinal team walked away with a win, when Tiffany Lo ’05 and Ashley Brick ’05 teamed up to beat the opposing first-seeded Trinity doubles team. Brick proceeded to score a pair of victories Tuesday, dominating her singles opponent in two sets as well. Brick’s point was combined with Susannah Ragab’s ’06 point, after her two-set victory in the singles department.
Ragab is one of three Cardinals to have two singles victories in the last six matches. Also on that list are Connell and Brick, who experienced victories against Vassar and Williams earlier this season.
“All in all, people are continuing to improve every match,” Brick said, referring to the team’s progress.
This improvement has not only been taking place on the court, but also outside the confines of the white lines.
“One of the biggest improvements I’ve seen on the team this year is the real sense of unity that we all have” Henderson said. “We are all really good friends and I think that really shows up on the court.”
Unfortunately, there is just one match left in the fall tennis season for the team to prove its progress.
The women travel to Maine tomorrow, Oct. 9, for their last match of the season against Bowdoin. The Polar Bears are sure to be hungry following two straight losses.
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