Rhode Island Women’s Tennis was all business last Wednesday night as they earned their first win of the spring campaign with a victory at every match except two against the Providence College Friars at Centre Court Tennis Club.
URI quickly picked up two points at one and two doubles giving up a total of seven games out of the 10 total games won with the closest one coming at three doubles where Pitocco and Goyette (PC) defeating Haber and Davis (URI) 6-4.
Singles was where Rhode Island really showed who they were, specifically at one, four and six singles, as three freshmen took it to the limit with two of those matches going to three sets. Erin Chratian (URI) won 6-4, 6-5 at one singles. Freshman four singles star Paulina Loredo (URI) had to use all the tools in the toolbox as she would defeat Haley Gurski (PC) 6-1, 3-6, 10-8. Six singles went the distance, as well as Mimi Dailey (PC), defeated Sydney Chratian (URI) 7-5, 5-7, 10-3. Two, three and five singles took care of business as they only gave up a total of five total games out of 36 games won.
When asking Head Coach Gordie Ernst about the quick development of the underclassmen on this team at this point into the season, he said, “The women on this team who are freshman and sophomores have played every match so far this season. A lot of the teams we’ve played were tough with good lineups.”
“These women are working on stuff in practice and then executing it in practice which is what you want them to do,” Ernst said.
Ernst stressed again the fact of overcoming tough losses not just physically but mentally which is a big thing at this level.
“A lot of these girls come up from high school sports and other things so when they play other teams who on paper are better than them, they get scared and timid and mentally give up,” Ernst said.
URI has a tight schedule ahead with Hofstra, Davidson and Wofford all with a .500 or better record. When asked about what this win against Providence College shows him about this team going into the next week or two, Ernst said that, “Each one of these teams has multiple players with a UTR, Universal Tennis Ranking, of 10 or 11 at various spots in the lineup.”
Like any other tennis coach at any level of play, he asked “How are you going to do against teams who on paper are better than you,” hoping that his team will compete hard at every position and find ways to win possibly.
URI’s next match is home against Hofstra on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 12:30 p.m.