The Colgate University women’s tennis team began their spring season competition on Jan. 27, traveling to compete against Long Island University (LIU) at the start of their four-month-long season. The season ends with the Patriot League tournament, which is set for April 18 to April 21. The Raiders are now looking to set the tone for the rest of their season after their first few weeks of play. The team is looking forward to matches against key rivals, and with Patriot League play beginning on March 16, they hope to enter these matches ready to represent Colgate.
In their first match against Long Island University, the team faced difficulties that resulted in a 7-0 loss. However, the following weekend, the Raiders were able to quickly turn it around and come out on top. In their first dual on Feb. 2-3, the Raiders ended their weekend with a clean sweep, beginning with a defeat of LeMoyne College 6-1 and ending with another 6-1 win against Merrimack College. Following the team’s victory against Merrimack, Head Coach Bobby Pennington celebrated his 300th career victory as head coach of the men’s and women’s tennis teams, showcasing the continuous positive direction the program is moving in.
First-year Avery Isaac reflected on the team’s mindset going into their second match following difficulty at LIU, discussing what was worked on to achieve a clean sweep the following weekend.
“LIU was a match we used to get our beginning-of-the-season nerves out,” Isaac said. “Against LeMoyne and Merrimack, the entire team played much looser […]. We played to win, and it led to a great weekend.”
During practice, the team continues to address any individual or team aspects of the game that could elongate their winning streak, with first-year Sophia Montero explaining some of the things she focuses on between matches.
“We’re definitely looking to obtain the doubles point early and continue the energy into singles. Focusing on patterns and better margins have helped,” Montero said.
Through work on both the mental and technical aspects of the game, the women’s tennis team is steadily improving as they move forward in their season.
The Raiders’ roster added five first-years this season, with those players making up most of the eight-person squad. Young talent on the team also speaks to a positive future for Colgate women’s tennis. Sophomore Sasha Herman explained how adding new players to the team helped contribute to a positive team culture that has translated to success on the court.
“With five [first-years], it feels like we have a completely new team with a lot of eager girls. We have all gotten super close,” Herman said. “We all want each other to succeed and it shows.”
Head Coach Bobby Pennington remains optimistic about the rest of the team’s season. Pennington can be seen expressing his positive feedback for the team in post-season interviews conducted by players on the Colgate men’s and women’s tennis social media.
Overall, the future looks promising for the women’s tennis team, with the addition of new talent and a positive team mindset contributing to the team’s early successes. Standout performances from players such as sophomore Amelia Galin, who recently won Raider of the Week for her wins against LeMoyne and Merrimack, and lots of young talent on the roster help the Raiders in their search for domination during this season. The women’s team hopes to achieve their fifth consecutive winning season as they feel optimistic about the direction the team is heading in.
