MEDFORD – The Tufts women's tennis team opened their home slate on Friday afternoon against the Brandeis Judges. Though the match had to be played inside because of weather, the Jumbos were able to earn a 7-2 win on the Hirsh Tennis Courts in the Gantcher Center.
The Jumbos (3-2 this spring) jumped out to a 2-1 lead in doubles play and then won five of the six singles matches to secure the win over the visitors. The Judges (1-7) picked up wins at both the first doubles and first singles positions.
Sophomore Alexa Meltzer and freshman Zoe Miller took the courts to take on Simone Vandroff and Maya Vasser at the second doubles position, and the Jumbos were able to earn an 8-4 win. At the third doubles position, sophomores Chelsea Hayashi and Jacqueline Baum also earned a solid win over the Judge's pair of Charlotte Aaron and Sarita Biswas.
The Judges were able to pick up a win in the first doubles position as Carley Cooke and Haley Cohen edged sophomore Conner Calabro and rookie Lauren Louks in extra points, 9-7.
The Jumbos had little trouble in the second and third singles positions. Meltzer took on Cohen in the second singles position and topped her Judge opponent in two sets, 6-1, 6-0. Similarly at third singles, Louks had little trouble with Vandroff, winning in two sets, 6-0, 6-1.
At third singles, Hayashi dropped the first set before coming back to win over Emily Eska, 0-6, 6-2, 6-4. Baum also dropped the first set at fifth singles, but was able to come back and top Brandeis' Vasser, 4-6, 7-6(4), 10-4. The last win for the Jumbos in singles play came at the sixth position, as Miller needed just two sets to top Danielle Simms, 7-6(2), 6-0.
The Judges picked up a win at first singles from Cooke, who was able to top Calabro, 7-6(2), 6-3.
The Judges will be back in action on Saturday when they travel up to Bates to take on another NESCAC opponent at 11:00 am. The Jumbos take the courts again next Friday when they travel up to Colby for a 4:00 pm match.
