Spring Break
URI women's tennis tops Wellesley
Joseph Rea
Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: Sports
10/24/08 - The University of Rhode Island women's tennis team fell into a 4-1 hole yesterday before climbing back to defeat Wellesley College, 5-4.
The Rams (6-0) surged back after dropping two of three doubles matches and losing the first and second singles matches. Rhody won at the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth singles positions to seal the 5-4 victory.
"We're a stronger team this year," head coach Sandy Wood said. "Actually, this is the strongest team I've had in my five-year tenure here at URI."
Freshmen Kirsten and Tristany Leikem kicked off the contest with a first doubles victory, 8-6. URI dropped the other two doubles matches. Junior Amanda Barletta and freshman Pam Emery lost second doubles, 8-6. Seniors Grace Hedstrom and Valerie Chacon also dropped their doubles match, 8-6.
"We have eight really strong players, just great depth," Wood said. "Also, we've been playing really well under pressure."
Things looked dim when Kirsten Leikem lost 6-3, 6-3 in her first singles match and Tristany. Leikem dropped her match, 6-2, 6-2. After these matches were finished, Wellesley had taken what looked to be a commanding 4-1 lead.
"It looked pretty grim," Wood said. "We were playing indoors on a really fast surface, but we became more comfortable the longer we were out there."
After losing the first set of her third singles match, Emery stormed back to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Sophomore Christen Cadigan followed suit, losing the first set 3-6 before winning 6-2, 6-2. Those two matches seemed to be the turning point for Rhode Island, as the team didn't look back.
"The team kept believing we could come back," Wood said. "This win could end up being important down the road."
URI tied the match behind a fifth singles victory from Chacon, 6-4, 6-3. Rhode Island then closed out its sixth victory of the season when Barletta won the sixth singles match 6-0, 6-1.
"It's good to finish the fall season undefeated," Wood said. The Rams will close out the fall season this weekend with the two-day Brown Invitational in Providence.
"We will be one of the weaker teams, which is kind of fun," Wood said. "We don't have to prove anything. We are going to surprise some people… everything is a bonus."
Wood also added this invitational is much different than the New England Championship, as the teams at the Brown Invitational are stronger. URI finished in first place at the New England Championship.
Because the invitational is a non-scored event, Rhode Island finishes the fall season undefeated at 6-0.
The Rams (6-0) surged back after dropping two of three doubles matches and losing the first and second singles matches. Rhody won at the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth singles positions to seal the 5-4 victory.
"We're a stronger team this year," head coach Sandy Wood said. "Actually, this is the strongest team I've had in my five-year tenure here at URI."
Freshmen Kirsten and Tristany Leikem kicked off the contest with a first doubles victory, 8-6. URI dropped the other two doubles matches. Junior Amanda Barletta and freshman Pam Emery lost second doubles, 8-6. Seniors Grace Hedstrom and Valerie Chacon also dropped their doubles match, 8-6.
"We have eight really strong players, just great depth," Wood said. "Also, we've been playing really well under pressure."
Things looked dim when Kirsten Leikem lost 6-3, 6-3 in her first singles match and Tristany. Leikem dropped her match, 6-2, 6-2. After these matches were finished, Wellesley had taken what looked to be a commanding 4-1 lead.
"It looked pretty grim," Wood said. "We were playing indoors on a really fast surface, but we became more comfortable the longer we were out there."
After losing the first set of her third singles match, Emery stormed back to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Sophomore Christen Cadigan followed suit, losing the first set 3-6 before winning 6-2, 6-2. Those two matches seemed to be the turning point for Rhode Island, as the team didn't look back.
"The team kept believing we could come back," Wood said. "This win could end up being important down the road."
URI tied the match behind a fifth singles victory from Chacon, 6-4, 6-3. Rhode Island then closed out its sixth victory of the season when Barletta won the sixth singles match 6-0, 6-1.
"It's good to finish the fall season undefeated," Wood said. The Rams will close out the fall season this weekend with the two-day Brown Invitational in Providence.
"We will be one of the weaker teams, which is kind of fun," Wood said. "We don't have to prove anything. We are going to surprise some people… everything is a bonus."
Wood also added this invitational is much different than the New England Championship, as the teams at the Brown Invitational are stronger. URI finished in first place at the New England Championship.
Because the invitational is a non-scored event, Rhode Island finishes the fall season undefeated at 6-0.
