The University of Rhode Island women’s tennis team fell to George Washington University 4-1 before sweeping Saint Joseph’s University 4-0 last weekend.
The pair of matches were both played at Saint Joseph’s in Philadelphia. Following the weekend set, the Rams record sits at 13-5 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
In Saturday’s loss against George Washington, Rhode Island’s lone win came in number three singles, where second-year Nikki Fernando bested first-year Victoria Sasinka in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.
Fernando and her doubles partner, fifth-year Nadia Rajan, led 5-4 in their doubles match, but were stopped short after both Rhody’s number two and three doubles pairs fell 6-2 and GW had already wrapped up the doubles point.
“Tough loss against GW on Saturday,” URI Head Coach Jonas Brobeck said. “The score was 4-1, but it was much closer than that, we were truly turning the match around the longer it went.”
On Sunday against Saint Joseph’s, Fernando picked up another straight set win over fifth-year Sophia Amato, nearly earning a double bagel 6-0, 6-1. The victory improved her singles record this season to 17-8 overall. Fernando credited her success in singles this year to playing for her teammates.
“Tennis can be such an individual sport,” Fernando said. “But on a collegiate team you’re not just playing for yourself anymore, you are playing for your teammates and for your school.”
Rhode Island first-years Sophia Herman and Steph Hylton each earned straight set singles victories as well. Herman took down first-year Victoria Tracey 6-3, 6-2, while Hylton bested first-year Brooke Tackett 6-1, 6-3.
In number one doubles, the team of Rajan and Fernando topped fourth-year Fabiana Tort-Umpierre and Tracey 6-2. The Rhody tandem has dominated in doubles play this year with a record of 18-9.
Rajan reflected on her experience doubling with Fernando.
“Honestly, we just clicked and we are playing so well together,” Rajan said. “I have enjoyed playing with her so much, she has probably been my favorite doubles’ pairing in my time here.”
In number two doubles, URI’s first-year pair of Ava Grnja and Priyaka Shanker defeated the twin duo of fifth-years Sophia and Ireland Amato, 6-1. Brobeck discussed the importance of doubles play after the match.
“The big talking point from Saturday was our doubles point, we didn’t play our identities at all,” Brobeck said. “We talked about it and assessed and did a much better job of that on Sunday, we played our style of tennis from start to finish.”
With just one more conference match before the Atlantic 10 tournament, Brobeck analyzed what makes his team successful, and what he hopes too see in their final match to carry over into the tournament.
“We need 100% commitment in how we are mentally competing in three doubles and six singles,” Brobeck said. “When we are playing and competing with our identity, like we did against [the University of] Richmond at home, we are showing that we can beat anybody in this conference.”
The Rams will wrap up their regular season on the road at 1 p.m. this Saturday, when they take on the University of Massachusetts Amherst.