After competing in warm-up tournaments in each of the last two weekends, the spring schedules of both the men’s and women’s tennis teams commenced last weekend. The Raider women began their season with three consecutive victories, while the men were not as fortunate, as they lost their match to a tough Dartmouth squad.

The men left for Dartmouth knowing that they would face a challenge against one of the top Ivy League squads. The men lost to the Big Green last season, but the Raiders hoped that with a good performance, they could upset the team this time around.

Unfortunately for the Raiders, it was tough going against Dartmouth. The team lost all three doubles matches to begin the afternoon, although every match was competitive. Raider Head coach Patrick Fisher was proud of the team’s doubles performances.

After losing the doubles point, the team did not fair any better in singles, losing all six singles matches. Even so, the team gained experience that could prove useful once it reaches Patriot League play.

“Overall, I feel we played well,” Fisher said. “I felt our doubles team played very well. Much of our success this year is going to depend on getting off to a good start and winning the doubles point. Other than that, I was pleased with our singles play. But the fact of the matter is we played against a very good team and losses like this are going to happen.”

While the men were playing in New Hampshire, the women’s tennis team was in Hamilton playing three home matches in two days. The home advantage really helped the Raider women, as the team went 3-0 to begin the season on the right foot.

Individually, senior Lil Vo, juniors Jackie Couture and Lindsay Grossman and first-year Cameron Thaney all went undefeated this weekend in both their singles and doubles matches. Sophomore Alex Seaton lost only one match at singles against Siena, but she showed her doubles skills as well by not dropping a doubles match. First-year Erin Fenn also played well, leading to an optomistic comment from Fisher.

“It is great to get off to such a strong start,” he said. “Our doubles I definitely feel can still improve, but they did very well this weekend and I am very happy with our singles play. We played well, but we cannot rest on that, as we have some tough matches ahead.”

The Colgate women had a great weekend, but now they look forward to this week. The team will play two tough away matches against Buffalo and Syracuse, a team that reached the Big East tournament final last year and will pose a threat to the Raiders.

Buffalo also competes in a tough division and the Bulls will test the Raiders. But as long as the team plays together and stays focused, it will have a good chance of winning these two matches.

The men also have two tough matches this weekend, when they take on Swarthmore, which is ranked in the top 15 of Division-III. The Raiders will also face off against St. Joseph’s, which is ranked in the top 15 of the East Region.

The men and women both have difficult tests this weekend, and they will have to work hard in order to win. These matches will give both squads great experience before their Patriot League schedules begin in March and, as long as the teams play hard, the Raiders should be able to come away with some victories this weekend.