The UR women’s tennis team kicked off its season this past Thursday with a bang, beating the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles, 8-1. With the help of skilled veterans and talented newcomers, the ‘Jackets were able to defeat the previously unbeaten Eagles. In addition to only allowing the Eagles one match in the game, UR also claimed victory quickly by winning four of the eight matches in straight sets.
‘I was pleased with the team’s performance against a much improved Brockport team,” head coach Matt Nielsen said about the match. ‘It was a great way to start off the season.”
At No. 1 singles, sophomore Lia Weiner had to earn the win against her opponent with the first set ending in a tiebreaker. The final score of Weiner’s match was 7-6 (3), 6-4. Teammate and freshman Jamie Bow swept her opponent at No. 3 singles. Senior captain Melinda Beckmann continued the trend, only allowing her opponent one game at No. 5 singles, 6-0, 6-1.
Not all of the singles matches were easily won freshman Danielle Shreck battled back in No. 4 singles from losing her first set, 4-6, to only let her opponent win one game in her second set. The match was then decided by a tiebreaker, with Shreck winning, 10-8, to add another win to the ‘Jackets’ score. Adding to the win total was senior Kristen Shaw’s win, 6-2, 6-3, at No. 6 singles.
UR kept up its momentum in the doubles matches as well by sweeping all three matches. Weiner teamed up with sophomore Elana Polivy to win, 8-3, in No. 1 doubles. Beckman and freshman Alexandra Goodman then followed with an 8-2 defeat of their opponents in No. 2 doubles. Sophomore Nisha Javeri and Bow worked together to finish the sweep, winning, 6-2, 6-3, at No. 3 doubles.
UR will be heading to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional from Sept. 26-28. The ITA Regional will be played at Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, N.Y. Last year, Weiner made it to the quarterfinals of the singles competition before losing to the one seed. Weiner and former teammate Alexa Perry ’08 advanced to the semifinals of the doubles competition, then also lost to the one seed.
Yesterday, UR continued its winning ways with a 7-2 win over Rochester Institute of Technology.
Belonga is a member of the class of 2010.
