The tennis team battled in Saturday’s loss against Fordham, playing four three-set singles matches. PHOTO CREDIT: Greg Clark
The University of Rhode Island Tennis team lost its final two home matches this weekend, dropping a pair of 5-2 matches against the University of Connecticut and Fordham University.
In Friday’s non-conference matchup against UConn, URI came out strong in doubles play. Senior doubles pairing Erin Chratian and Sydney Chratian secured URI’s first win 6-3, shortly followed by junior Nadia Rajan and senior Paulina Loredo’s 6-4 victory that granted the Rams their first point of the day.
Rhode Island’s other point came from Loredo’s singles win against UConn junior Caroline Cook in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. When describing her gameplay, URI Head Coach Val Villucci said Loredo is “a very consistent grinder” who “never quits.”
“[Loredo] puts her best effort out there every time she steps on the court,” Villucci said. “It’s good to have someone that never shows, let’s say, any emotional piece of disappointment when she’s playing because she just remains focused and knows that it’s never over. That’s something her teammates should recognize.”
After Friday’s match, URI hosted the Fordham Rams on Saturday in their last home match of the season. Even though the final score favored the visitors, five of the six singles matches went to three sets.
“I think Fordham has some really good wins and for us to play them like we did, it should really lift our players knowing that they can still go forward into A-10’s knowing that they have a really good shot going forward in the tournament,” Villucci said. “But seedings are going to play a role, so they’re going to have to fight their way through it.”
Rhode Island’s two points of the match came from Rajan and sophomore Klara Nelander in their respective singles match victories. Rajan defeated Fordham junior Avery Aude, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 and Nelander bested Fordham freshman Lorraine Bergmann, 7-6 (10-3), 1-6, 6-4.
With several close matches this season, Coach Villucci said she stressed the importance of positive thinking and smart, consistent play.
“[The team realizes] that they have to consistently try to have a positive mindset, and that is something that we continually work on,” she said. “It’s just so important because you can’t get yourself down, even on the losses, because [tennis] is a type of sport that can turn in a minute. We just keep reinforcing staying positive and doing the right things.”
On Saturday, URI will play their regular season finale match at UMass before competing in the Atlantic 10 Championship at the end of the month.
“It is important for [the team] to just keep fighting because they are able to compete and beat any of these players that we are playing against,” Villucci said. “They showed so much fight in that match [against Fordham], and had we come out on top, that would have been a very significant win for us because it’s an A-10 match, but also just showing the other A-10 schools that we are right there with them.”