The women's tennis team got off to an ominous start to its fall season.
The Jumbos traveled to Amherst, Mass. this weekend to scrimmage NESCAC foes Amherst, Williams and Middlebury. While several Jumbos looked promising in their doubles play, the team struggled in singles, and two of the team's 12 players sustained injuries over the frustrating weekend.
Many of the top Jumbos fared well in doubles but struggled individually in their singles matches. Senior co-captain Andrea Cenko split both her doubles and singles matches as she teamed up with sophomore Meghan McCooey.
McCooey and junior Mari Homma both struggled in singles, playing in three matches apiece and failing to record a single win. Sophomore Erica Miller won her first singles match of the day before losing her final two, and she also split No. 2 doubles with sophomore co-captain Laura Hoguet on the day.
"I was really impressed with our doubles," senior Megan Gentzler wrote in an e-mail to the Daily. "I'd say that we're strides ahead of where we were at the beginning of last year. Coach [Kate] Bayard always stresses the importance of doubles."
In addition to the returning upperclassmen, the Jumbos also showed off their five new freshmen this weekend. Most notably, newcomer Miranda Young won all three of her singles matches, placing first in her division. Young was paired with her twin sister Hayley as the duo impressed in doubles, splitting their two matches.
Freshman Julia Browne lost her two singles matches, but she was able to pick up a doubles win as she teamed up with Homma. The duo was blown out in its first match 8-2, but came back to win its second.
Edwina Stewart, a freshman from England, lost her two singles matches 8-4 and 8-3 respectively, and she and Gentzler also dropped a close 9-8 doubles match. Stewart was then forced to pull out of her third singles match after sustaining an injury earlier in the day.
"I strained the tendons in my right elbow in the first match," Stewart said. "After playing through it for the second match, I was forced to pull out of the third."
Stewart will most likely be back for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's regional tournament, scheduled for this weekend at MIT. Another freshman, Madeline Roberts, is also battling injuries, as she hurt her knee prior to the start of the season, forcing her to miss Sunday's matches. Like Stewart, she is expected to return next week.
While the freshmen have been struggling to stay healthy, those that played gained valuable experience in the scrimmages this weekend. The members of the rookie class are making impressive strides toward integrating themselves into the Jumbo roster.
"The freshmen are working really hard in practice," sophomore Erica Miller said. "We are definitely making progress towards unifying our team."
The injury issues didn't end with the first-years. Senior Grace Cascarilla Berry, who joins the varsity team this year, hurt her shoulder in the middle of her second match and was forced to withdraw. Berry's injury makes her the third injured Jumbo in the early season, which will test the team's depth in the coming matches.
Despite the early struggles, the players are still optimistic for the season to come. With five talented freshmen, the Jumbos are bringing new energy to the courts each and every day.
"We get along well," Stewart said of her fellow four first-year teammates. "All the returning players have been really supportive, and I think we are going to have a very good season."
The Jumbos will need those freshmen to add depth to their roster, as they lost four seniors from last season and only added three freshmen in the past two seasons combined. This season's five first-years hope to invigorate and motivate the team with their youth, energy and most importantly, talent.
Jen Luten, who was ranked No. 3 in New England and No. 10 in the nation as a senior last year, joins the staff as the team's second assistant coach, to serve alongside former Bucknell star Chelsea Mills. This year's team hopes for Luten, along with co-captains Cenko and Hoguet, to provide leadership for the young team.
