HOPE COLLEGE HANDS SAINTS FIRST

LOSS OF THE SEASON, 6-3

Mar. 20: The St. Lawrence University women’s tennis team suffered their first loss of the season in dual-match play, as the Saints dropped their match with Hope College by the score of 6-3 on Wednesday in Hilton Head, SC. The Scarlet and Brown are now 4-1 on the season.

The Flying Dutch came out of doubles play with a 2-1 lead, with St. Lawrence earning one point at the No. 2 slot. Sophomore Casey Gilman teamed with rookie Stephanie Finn to defeat Christine Garcia and Danielle Werley 8-4.

However, Hope won at both No. 1 and 3 doubles, as Lucy Himes and Sammi Stille beat senior Kirsten Lannon and sophomore Chelsea Hubbell 8-1 and Katherine Garcia and Nicole Spagnuolo knocked off rookie Kelley Jenkins and sophomore Liz Ronty, 8-2.

Stille continued to play well for Hope College as she beat Lannon at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 6-1 to extend her team’s lead. However, Finn and Gilman would even things up at 3-3 with wins at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively. Finn beat Christina Garcia 6-2, 6-4, while Gilman finished off Werley by the same score.

The Flying Dutch would capture the win behind their depth, though, as they swept the final three singles matches to earn the 6-3 victory. Marissa Kooyers defeated Hubbell 6-2, 6-4 at No. 4, while Himes topped Hall 6-1, 6-4 in the No. 5 slot. Katherine Garcia would then hand rookie Paige Cohen a 6-2, 6-2 loss to conclude the match and give Hope College the win.

“Today’s loss is a learning lesson, as the season is very young and we see a few areas we need to work on as we move forward into conference play,” said Saints’ head coach Jeremy Freeman. “We fought hard and put in a good effort.”

Wednesday’s match was the Saints’ last in Hilton Head, SC, as they finish the trip 2-1. The Scarlet and Brown will be in action again next weekend, Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30 in the Newell Field House when they take on The College of New Jersey and New Paltz, respectively.

SAINTS SWEEP MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE, 7-0

Mar. 18: The St. Lawrence University women’s tennis squad swept Mississippi College by the score of 7-0 on Tuesday afternoon in Hilton Head, SC, improving to 4-0 in dual matches this season.

The Scarlet and Brown handled the Lady Choctaws in all seven of the matches played. Senior Kirsten Lannon and sophomore Chelsea Hubbell defeated Sarah Spraberry and Emily Newman 8-4 at No. 1 doubles, followed by an 8-1 victory from rookie Stephanie Finn and sophomore Casey Gilman over Mississippi College’s Andrea Boyles and Claire Cox.

St. Lawrence’s No. 3 doubles duo of sophomore captain Liz Ronty and first year student Kelley Jenkins gave the Saints a 3-0 sweep with an 8-2 win over Sydney Moak and Marigrace Deloach.

The Saints continued their impressive effort in singles play, as the team won all four of the matches played to lock up a 7-0 win. Lannon knocked off Spraberry at No. 1 singles 6-2, 6-2, while Finn followed with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Newman. Gilman and Hubbell each earned victories over their opponents at No. 3 and 4 singles as well.

“The ladies played very well today and stayed focused throughout the match,” said Saints head coach Jeremy Freeman, whose team will face Hope College on Wednesday. “We need to keep that focus as we head into our final match of the trip.”

SAINTS REMAIN UNBEATEN WITH 6-3 VICTORY OVER RICHARD STOCKTON

Mar. 17: The St. Lawrence University women’s tennis team received solid performances at the top of their singles line-up on Monday en route to an important 6-3 victory over Richard Stockton in Hilton Head, SC. The Saints picked up wins from senior Kirsten Lannon, first year Stephanie Finn and sophomore Casey Gilman at the top-three singles spots to pick up the win.

"This was an important win for the women today,” said St. Lawrence University head coach Jeremy Freeman. “ Stockton is another school in the independent pool for selections to the NCAA. This win puts us one step closer to repeating our run last year."

Despite dropping the No. 1 doubles match, St. Lawrence was able to carry the doubles portion of the match by winning at both the No. 2 and No. 3 slots. Finn and Gilman dominated Richard Stockton’s duo of Kelli Williams and Jess Victor, 8-1, at No. 2 doubles, while sophomore Liz Ronty and first year student Kelley Jenkins defeated Shelly Sai and Ana Estevez, 8-5.

Richard Stockton’s lone point from doubles play came from Christina Phillips and Christy Alexander, who knocked off St. Lawrence’s top pairing of Lannon and sophomore Chelsea Hubbell, 8-5.

The trio of Lannon, Finn and Gilman would put the match out of reach by sweeping the top three spots of singles play to ensure the Saints’ victory. Lannon defeated Phillips 6-2, 6-1 at No. 1 singles, while Finn beat Alexander 7-5, 6-3 at No. 2. Gilman then continued her impressive string of victories with a 6-1, 6-1 trouncing of Williams.

Though Victor and Sai would take their singles matches at No. 4 and 5, respectively, over Hubbell and first year student Mackenzie Hall, rookie Paige Cohen would put the finishing touches on St. Lawrence’s win with a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 6 singles over Estevez.

"We had tough weather conditions to contend with today,” added Freeman. “We have not played outside since the fall and we showed our rust when dealing with the elements. However, we found a way to win today to improve to 3-0 on the year."

St. Lawrence will look to stay unbeaten in dual-matches this season when they take on Mississippi College on Tuesday, March 18 in Hilton Head, SC.