Rams make easy work of Bryant in season opener
Trevor Dorchies
Issue date: 9/18/09 Section: Sports
9/18/09 - The University of Rhode Island's women's tennis team started the 2009 season campaign in dominating fashion over Bryant University Wednesday night.
The Rams opened up in doubles play with sophomores and twin sisters Kirsten and Tristany Leikem, who defeated Bryant junior Valeria Couto-Cuervo and freshman Irma Rodriguez-Lockwood 8 to 5.
In the second doubles match, Rhody juniors Christen Cadigan and Brooke Hoover made quick work of Bryant juniors Katie Francazio and Morganne Downing, dominating 8 to 1.
Even after the dominance shown by both Cadigan and Hoover, complacency was never thought of. "Our match went very well, but our goal is still to get better at doubles," said Hoover.
Cadigan agreed, saying, "the team played well, we were really getting in our groove".
Sophomore and North Providence native Pam Emery paired up with senior Amanda Barletta to finish off Bryant in doubles action 8 to 3.
Moving onto singles play, not much changed for either team. Rhode Island went onto sweep Bryant in singles match play with a great overall team effort.
In the opening round of singles play, Kirsten Leikem defeated Morganne Downing in straight sets, 6-3 and 6-4 respectively. Christen Cadigan, Brooke Hoover and Amanda Barletta all made quick work of their respective opponents with both Cadigan and Hoover winning 6-0 in their sets. Barletta defeated Irma Rodriguez-Lockwood 6-1 and 6-1.
"Individually, I believed we all played great [today]," Cadigan said. She went on to say "As a team, we want to play better and at a higher level, and we have a coach that can help us. Our goal is to get past the quarterfinals of the A-10 tournament."
At last year's championship tournament, Rhode Island finished tied for seventh with Duquesne. Rhode Island opened the tournament, beat St. Bonaventure 4-0, lost to Charlotte 4-0 and bowed out of the tournament against Saint Louis, losing 4-0.
Rhode Island travels to Hamden, Connecticut today and stays through Sunday to compete in the Quinnipiac Invitational.
The Rams opened up in doubles play with sophomores and twin sisters Kirsten and Tristany Leikem, who defeated Bryant junior Valeria Couto-Cuervo and freshman Irma Rodriguez-Lockwood 8 to 5.
In the second doubles match, Rhody juniors Christen Cadigan and Brooke Hoover made quick work of Bryant juniors Katie Francazio and Morganne Downing, dominating 8 to 1.
Even after the dominance shown by both Cadigan and Hoover, complacency was never thought of. "Our match went very well, but our goal is still to get better at doubles," said Hoover.
Cadigan agreed, saying, "the team played well, we were really getting in our groove".
Sophomore and North Providence native Pam Emery paired up with senior Amanda Barletta to finish off Bryant in doubles action 8 to 3.
Moving onto singles play, not much changed for either team. Rhode Island went onto sweep Bryant in singles match play with a great overall team effort.
In the opening round of singles play, Kirsten Leikem defeated Morganne Downing in straight sets, 6-3 and 6-4 respectively. Christen Cadigan, Brooke Hoover and Amanda Barletta all made quick work of their respective opponents with both Cadigan and Hoover winning 6-0 in their sets. Barletta defeated Irma Rodriguez-Lockwood 6-1 and 6-1.
"Individually, I believed we all played great [today]," Cadigan said. She went on to say "As a team, we want to play better and at a higher level, and we have a coach that can help us. Our goal is to get past the quarterfinals of the A-10 tournament."
At last year's championship tournament, Rhode Island finished tied for seventh with Duquesne. Rhode Island opened the tournament, beat St. Bonaventure 4-0, lost to Charlotte 4-0 and bowed out of the tournament against Saint Louis, losing 4-0.
Rhode Island travels to Hamden, Connecticut today and stays through Sunday to compete in the Quinnipiac Invitational.
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