Womens Tennis

Cards Fall Short of Bates and Trinity by 5-4 Scores, Ending Wesleyan's Playoff Hopes for 2009-10

Needing two victories in their final three NESCAC matches to support their candidacy for a NESCAC playoff spot, the Cardinals let a close battle with Bates slip away as the visiting Bobcats grabbed a 5-4 decision indoors Sun., April 25. Virtually the same thing happened against Trinity Thurs., April 29 indoors due to high winds as the Bantams pulled out a 5-4 victory. The Cardinals end the year on the road vs. Williams Sun., May 2 as the team's hopes of a NESCAC playoff bid are over.

Wesleyan won just one of the three doubles matches vs. Bates and Trinity, and it proved the difference in the team scoring as the teams split the six singles affairs. Against Bates, the team of Genevieve Aniello '13 (photo insert upper right) and Linda McDougal '11 (photo insert lower right) came through with an 8-6 win at #2. Both Aniello and McDougal went on to win their singles matches as well, the former in convincing fashion at #3, 6-0, 6-0, and the latter in a super tie-breaker.

At #2 singles, Sarah Miller '12 (main photo) also swept her Bobcat adversary without dropping a game. Losses in three sets by #1 Anika Fischer and #4 Meredith Holmes as well as a straight-set setback by #6 Casey Simchik '10 rounded out the singles results.

The match vs. Trinity was highlighted by Simchik's dominating straight-set victory and 8-1 double win at #3, joined by Taylor Morales '13. Once again, Miller blew past her rival and McDougal captured her match. Fischer and Aniello fell in three sets while Holmes lost in two sets.

Williams, ranked second nationally, was Wesleyan's final opponent of the year Sun., May 2. As expected, the Ephs captured a 9-0 result, giving Wesleyan a final record of 10-7, 2-7 in NESCAC play. With Aniello unable to play singles due to a knee ailment, Wesleyan pushed the majority of its lineup up a notch, giving Hannah Berkman '12 a chance to play #6 and she made the most of it by giving her Eph opponent a battle, falling 6-4, 6-3. The only other Cardinal to force a set to 6-4 was Fischer at #1, losing 6-2, 6-4.

For the year, Aniello and Simchik tied for the team lead in singles with a 10-6 record. Each was equally proficient in doubles as Aniello was 11-7 while seeing action in each match. Simchik had a 10-6 mark. The two were paired five times, good for a 4-1 mark.