Women’s Tennis Crushes Holy Cross in PL Quarters Before Losing to Army in Semis

After a season filled with ups and downs, the women’s tennis season came to an abrupt end in the semifinals of the Patriot League tournament two weekends ago against Army, losing 4-0. However, the Raiders were also on the right end of a sweep as well, crushing the Crusaders of Holy Cross 4-0.

On Friday, April 24, the fifth-seeded Raiders faced four-seed Holy Cross in the quarterfinals and routed them with incredible ease. Junior captain Elise DeRose and junior Cameron Williams defeated Kristen Meahl and Carolyn Chandley in the first doubles match of the day by the score of 8-2. First-year Alexandra Erickson and senior Cameron Thaney won 8-2 in third doubles, giving ‘Gate the doubles point.

In singles play, DeRose (6-4, 6-0, 1st singles), Williams (6-2, 6-2, 4th singles) and senior Erin Fenn (6-2, 6-3, third singles) won singles matches, giving Colgate the dominant 4-0 win.

The women were riding an emotional high after blanking Holy Cross, a team that the Raiders felt was wrongly awarded the number four seed in the tournament. In the semifinals the Raiders went against the incumbent league champions, Army. The Raiders faced Army earlier in the year and were shut-out by the dominant play of the Black Knights. Unfortunately, the women were swept, 4-0, by the Black Knights to end season. In doubles play, Colgate won only two doubles games out of 25, and in singles play, five games out of 41.

The women’s tennis team went through growing pains throughout the course of their season, but next year should be much more successful. The team only graduates two seniors and the core of sophomores and juniors that anchored the team this season will be more experienced and committed to capturing that elusive Patriot League Championship.