REDLANDS, CA – After a day of rest, the Tufts women's tennis team came out strong on Thursday afternoon, topping Denison by a score of 7-2. The women jumped to an early lead in doubles play by taking two of three, and then secured the win by winning five of the six singles matches.
The duo of freshman Conner Calabro (Sherman Oaks, CA) and fellow classmate Chelsea Hayashi (San Anselmo, CA) secured one of the two doubles wins for the Jumbos at #2 doubles as they topped their Denison opponents, 8-2. Senior Samantha Gann (Massapequa, NY) and freshman Jacquline Baum (Highland Park, IL) downed the Big Red's Emily Holloway and Eleni Coleman by an 8-2 score.
The Jumbos had some closer battles in the singles competition. Gann played at #1 singles and lost the first set before coming back to beat Kelsey Geppner, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Freshman Alexa Meltzer lost a set at #2 singles as well, but was able to beat Denison's Taylor Hawkins 7-6(5), 5-7, 10-7.
Playing at #5 singles, senior Rebecca Kimmel (Longmeadow, MA) beat Lauren Schectman, 6-3, 7-6(4). Calabro used just two sets to beat Meg Chuimento of Denison, 7-5, 6-4 at #3 singles. Similarly, sophomore Catherine Worley (New Orleans, LA) cruised to a win at #6 singles, topping Coleman, 6-0, 6-1.
Baum played at #4 singles and won the first set, but wasn't able to finish, falling to Holloway, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. The other Denison point came at #1 doubles as senior Shelci Bowman (Dallas, TX) and Meltzer were edged by Geppner and Hawkins, 8-6.
With the win the Jumbos move to 1-1 this spring. They will be back in action on Friday as they take on Azusa Pacific at 6:00 pm. They follow that with their last match of the spring break trip the following day against Claremont Mudd Scripps at 2:00 pm.
