Rhode Island headed up to Cambridge on Friday for the International Tennis Association Northeast Regionals, highlighted by second-year Sophie Herrman, who reached the round of 32.
Rhode Island was also represented by second-year Nikki Fernando, graduate student Nadia Rajan, and fourth-year Valentina Cvackova in the tournament. This bracket featured 96 of the top players in the Northeast region.
Herrman reached the round of 32 following a straight set win in her first match over Dartmouth’s Caroline Lemcke (7-5 6-3), and a three-set victory over Brown’s Vivian Miller, (6-7(5), 6-4, 10-8) for her second match. In the Round of 32, Herrman faced off against a strong opponent in Orly Ogilvy of Yale. Ogilvy won the opening set 6-4, but Herrman battled back to win the second, 6-3. Ogilvy won 10-4 in the super-set tiebreaker to move on.
“I’m honestly really happy with that,” said Herrman. “I feel like the work we’ve been putting in and the things our coach and our team are working on, trying to have a groove was really showcased this weekend.”
First-year URI head coach Jonas Brobeck, who was named head coach in late August, spoke highly of Herrman’s performance.
“Obviously she [Herrman] had a great tournament,” said Brobeck. “One of Sophie’s biggest strengths is her competitive mindset during matches. She is very good at resetting.”
Herrman is 4-1 this fall in singles match play. At the URI Fall Invite, Herrman went 2-0. Brobeck spoke positively on the team’s ability to battle adversity.
“We need to be brave and willing enough to do the right things,” said Brobeck, “When we put ourself in situations when we are close in parts of a match, we need to execute it and go for it in big moments.”
Despite not picking up a win in singles play, fifth-year student Nadia Rajan did have a win in doubles play alongside second-year Nikki Fernando, who won in singles competition. Rajan and Fernando defeated University of Connecticut’s Aleksandra Karamyshev and Maria Constantinou, 8-4, before losing a close match to University of Massachusetts’ Danielle Hack and Thamonpan Jonglertrakul, 8-6.
“Nadia and Nikki’s energy level was high,” said Brobeck. “They did some great things that they need to continue to reinforce, but we also need to clean up some things when it comes to our shot selection.”
Herrman and fourth year Valentina Cvackova received an opening-round bye as a top 16 seed in the doubles bracket. However, the University at Buffalo’s team of Ambre Amat and Esmee Andresen beat them in the second round, 8-5.
Brobeck comes to Rhode Island from Northwestern State University, where he has been the head coach since August of 2020.
“I’ve been very blessed with having such a supportive team that has accepted me and being willing to listen and buy into our standards that we are setting and that we are creating and in the end, building and creating a team culture,” Brobeck said.
Herrman has been happy with the way Broback has grown accustomed to the team.
“I have only positive things to say about coach so far,” said Herrman. “He is a really great coach, very motivating and enthusiastic. He brings a lot of energy every single day.”
Up next, Brobeck, Herrman and the team head north to Providence on Saturday and Sunday to compete in the Brown Classic at Brown University.