The PSU Women’s Tennis Team lost 6-3 to last years Little East Conference runner up Bridgewater State College on Friday, September 11 bringing PSU’s overall record to 0-4, 0-2 in the LEC.
The teams split the singles matches but the outcome of the doubles were just what the Bridgewater Bears needed to push them over the edge, bringing their overall record to 3-0 going 1-0 in the LEC.
PSU first-year Sarah Burke was able to boost her record to 3-0 by winning singles match number 1 against BSC junior Lauren Donnelly. PSU also grabbed two wins by sophomore Laura Donovan and first-year Rachel Figura in singles matches 2 and 4. They both improved their record to 2-1.
Although the three wins in the singles matches were impressive, PSU was unable to seal the deal by losing all three doubles matches. Each single match winners, Sarah Burke and Rachel Figura were teamed up for doubles match number one. It was a rematch for Burke and Figura, matching up against former opponents Lauren Donnelly, and BSC junior Jessica Francis. Donnelly took revenge by winning the match 8-6. This made Francis, along with the Bear’s Catarina Rosa, a winner in both the singles and doubles categories. Rosa had defeated sophomore Lydia Smith in her singles match and then went on to defeat PSU’s Lacey Mailman and Megan Cooper in her double’s match with partner Bridget Murphy, 8-6.
It may not be the start they were looking for, but Coach Barbara Rawlsky-Willett still has a positive outlook for the rest of the season, “In our 4 matches, we have lost 7 out of 11 doubles matches by scores of either 8-6 or 9-8,” says Coach Rawlsky-Willett, “We are close each time, but can’t seem to make the close doubles matches go our way yet. We will be working hard to improve our doubles play so we can turn the wins our way,” added Rawlsky-Willett.
The women’s tennis team has a week of rest before the defending LEC champions Umass Dartmouth come to PSU. “We look forward to measuring our play against the defending champions,” says Rawlsky-Willett, “We are a young team this year, and will get better with more experience and playing against better players.”
So, if you have the chance go out and support your peers! You can find them playing at the P.E. Center Courts this Fri., Sept. 18 at 3:30 p.m.