The 25th ranked women’s tennis team captured a 9-0 win over the College of Wooster on Saturday, and continued their success with a 6-3 win over Oberlin College on Sunday.
Senior Maddie Lee at No. 1 singles and sophomore Ali Bush at No. 3 singles each recorded 6-0, 6-1 wins against Wooster. Senior Gretchen Wilder also won 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2 singles. Sophomore Colleen Morris took a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 4 singles, and sophomore Megan Galle won 6-0, 6-3 at No. 5 singles. First-year Meredith Breda stepped up and also won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 6 singles.
Breda thinks a strength that the team possesses is the close-knit bond all the teammates have with each other. “We really know how to lift each other up,” said Breda. “I think our confidence will increase the more matches we get under our belt too.” Breda also said that the Tigers’ ability to storm the net quickly and their aggressive doubles play are more strengths for the team.
In doubles play on Saturday, junior Alyssa Seneviratne and Breda won 8-5 in the No. 1 flight. The teams of Galle and sophomore Sarah Wilder and Morris and first-year Grace Haigh won no. 2 and 3’s doubles by 8-4 each.
“Winning this match was a great confidence booster to carry into the rest of the season,” Breda said.
The Tigers had to change their lineup at the last minute before the Oberlin match when they found out their senior captain, Lee, could not compete in the match. Haigh was impressed with how the team responded to the adversity.
“Our team is strong altogether,” Haigh said.
Taking an early 2-1 lead after doubles play and winning the first three singles matches for a 5-1 lead was enough for the Tigers to take the match. Oberlin then took two of the last three matches, as well as the first doubles win at No. 1 before DePauw went ahead for good.
Galle and Sarah Wilder won 8-3 at No. 2 doubles and Gretchen Wilder and Bush won 8-6 at No. 3 doubles for the Tigers. Other wins included Seneviratne’s first singles win, Bush’s at No. 2, winning 6-4, 6-3, and Galle’s intense three set match where she won 6-3, 7-6, 7-2.
Lee is satisfied with how the season is going so far, as well as excited for what’s to come. “We are off to a great start; I can’t wait to see where it takes us.”
The women compete next against Franklin University at home on Thursday.