The women's tennis team continued to exercise its on-court dominance, crushing the Bates Bobcats and Colby White Mules last Tuesday and Saturday. Both matches were 9-0 victories for the Jumbos, who have lost just one set (and won all 27 matches) on their way to a 3-0 start this fall.
Last Tuesday's meet with Bates displayed the awesome power of the Jumbos. The team did not drop a set, with the closest match being the number one doubles. Sophomore Jennifer Lejb and senior co-captain Katie Nordstrom won it 8-6.
"They're a scrappy team," coach Jim Watson said of Bates. "For us to beat them that soundly speaks volumes for us."
Nordstrom, who has received treatment for shin splints after each of the last two matches, has shown no ill effects on court.
"[Bates] had strong doubles teams, definitely challenges," Nordstrom said. "They were good volleyers. We had to stay on top of our game."
Freshman Becky Bram seems to have cemented her status as the team's number two player, putting up consecutive authoritative performances from that position. Bram dropped just three games in disposing of Colby and Bates, and will be searching for more scalps in the coming weeks. Senior co-captain Iffy Saeed also played a commanding match, winning 6-1, 6-0. Senior Emily Warshauer played her first singles match of the season, winning 6-2, 6-2.
Nevertheless, Coach Watson will be targeting several aspects of the team's game for improvement. The depth of ground strokes is a major area of focus: coach Watson feels the women are still hitting them too short in the court, allowing opponents the opportunity to approach net and finish off the point. He would also like the Jumbos to look for more opportunities to finish the point at the net.
"They hit the ball so hard that they usually get a short ball returned," Coach Watson said.
At Saturday's match-up against Colby, the Jumbos battled out some close doubles matches, with the number one pair of Lejb and Nordstrom victorious 8-6. Second pair junior Barclay Gang and sophomore Neda Pisheva won 8-6, while the third team of sophomores Ashley Weisman and Trina Spear were victorious 8-4. Opposite of doubles, Colby offered little resistance in the singles, as the Jumbos trampled their opponents. Bram (number two) and Lisa Miller (number six) dominated, winning 6-1, 6-0 and 6-0, 6-2 respectively, while Gang won 6-1, 6-2 at number three. Nordstrom (four) and Saeed (five) were also victorious, winning decisively 6-2, 6-0 and 6-0, 6-2.
The toughest match of the day was number one Lejb's battle against Colby's Sara Hughes. Lejb lost the first set 6-2, however came back in thrilling fashion, winning the final two sets 7-5, 6-3 to finish the Jumbos' clean sweep.
"Saturday I was not quite playing my game," Lejb said. "[Against Bates on Tuesday] I stayed aggressive. That's what I was lacking on Saturday."
The Jumbos' number one had no trouble against Bates, cruising to a 6-2, 6-0 win against a hard-hitting but overmatched Tara DiVito.
"I have complete faith in her," captain Saeed said of Lejb. "Even when she's behind, she always finds a way to get back in it."
"I'm looking forward to more of a challenge," freshman Miller said.
Miller, who put up with a less-than-enthusiastic Colby opponent on Saturday, played an imposing game against Bates as number four.
"She had a very different game, an aggressive one," Miller said. "She had a serve-volley game. Not many girls have that so I had to make an adjustment."
The depth of the team continues to inspire confidence.
"I can't draw a line between players," Lejb said.
However the Jumbos will have to be on their toes against Middlebury (2-0) on Sunday, September 28 at 1pm on the Voute Courts. Middlebury meets Wesleyan on Saturday before heading to Tufts
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