The women’s tennis team headed to Lehigh University for a rivalry matchup on Wednesday, where the Brown and White got the upper hand, winning the matchup 7-0.
Starting with the doubles’ point, the Leopards (1-4 Patriot League, 2-6 overall) struggled against the Mountain Hawks (4-1 Patriot League, 8-11 overall). Freshman Sophia Pacheco and sophomore Marie Sofia Romaniello dropped their match 6-1, and freshman Sophia Bald and senior Ally Waldman dropped their match 6-2.
“Ally and I, we just started playing together, so we’re still trying to figure some things out,” Bald said. “I think we definitely could have done better. It was some close games, and it was just a matter of winning one more point than we did.”
Junior Hanna Ganchi and senior Alyssa Perdomo were knotted at 4-4 in their doubles match, but the other two courts concluded beforehand, giving Lehigh the doubles point.
Singles saw more success for the Mountain Hawks, as the Maroon and White lost all of their singles matches. Only Perdomo was able to force a third set, ultimately falling 6-3, 3-6 and then in a third-set matchbreaker.
“After we lost the double’s point, energy died down pretty quickly,” Romaniello said. “As a team, we could have brought more energy, considering it was Rivalry.”
Pacheco was able to force a tie-breaking series in her first singles set, but unraveled 7-5, 6-1 overall.
Bald dropped her match 6-3, 6,3, Ganchi 6-3, 6-1, Romaniello 6-0, 6-2 and Waldman lost 6-0, 6-1.
“Knowing that they’re a really strong team was kind of lingering in the back of our heads a little bit,” Romaniello said. “As a team, going forward, we just really need to put that aside.”
Bald noted that the team wanted to prioritize being “aggressive” and “consistent” moving forward.
Women’s tennis looks to rebound this weekend against Bucknell University (1-5 Patriot League, 8-10 overall) and Marist University (9-6 overall). The men’s team also returns to action against Navy (2-1 Patriot League, 19-17 overall), Marist University (11-5 overall) and Lehigh (3-0 Patriot League, 10-7 overall).
“Doesn’t matter who’s across the net,” Romaniello said. “We just need to give our best effort regardless.”