PHOEBE LANGDON
Special to The Leader
The Fredonia women’s tennis team has opened its season looking the best it has in years. Despite their lack of a preseason, the Blue Devils have started off with a 3-1 record. The last time they had a winning record four matches in was in 2010.
The Devils dominated in their first match, showing a 9-0 score against D’Youville at The Miller Tennis Center in Buffalo. Failing to use the momentum from their first match, the team traveled to Penn State Behrend where they fell to the Lions 7-2.
The two points both came from the singles courts with a default at fifth and an upset by freshman Anna Chiacchia at third. Chiacchia lost her first set 3-6 but rallied back and got the second set 6-3. In a tiebreaker for the third set, she managed a 10-2 score for the win.
Chiacchia has been a serious addition to the team and is currently sporting an undefeated singles record of 4-0. Paired with sophomore Olivia Miller, first singles, the two demonstrate textbook chemistry.
Olivia Miller, 1-3 in singles, fights viciously in every match she plays, never giving up on a point.
“I felt better playing doubles with Olivia. It made it better having her out there to calm my nerves,” Chiacchia said after their first match as a pair. Miller also described how well their skills complemented each other and how the chemistry on the court was undeniable.
“I think this is going to be a successful year for us in doubles,” Miller added.
Especially considering their underclass status, time will only tell what will come of their young talent. Other underclassmen featured throughout the lineup include sophomores Adriana Speach 2-2 at sixth singles and Christine Thomas 1-1 at third doubles.
Saturday, Fredonia recovered from their Behrend loss with a big win against Brockport, beating the Golden Eagles for the first time in six years. Leading the stampede was the third doubles team of Thomas and senior Phoebe Langdon who defeated their challengers 8-5.
On the singles side, Chiacchia defeated her opponent 6-2, 6-2. Karnisky easily earned the win posting a 6-1, 6-1 score. Speach claimed sixth singles, with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.
The deciding point came from senior Halee Dickinson, who won her first set 6-2 and her second set 7-5.
Coach Catalano said that winning this match was “validation” for him that his team’s hard work has paid off. This proves that all our hard work over the three year[s] that I’ve been here has paid off,” Catalano said.
The following morning, the Blue Devils traveled to the Murray Athletic Center in Pine Valley, where the team would face Elmira College for the first time.
“They exceeded my expectations,” Catalano said after the team claimed a 6-3 victory, ending Elmira’s eight-match home win streak that dated back to 2014-15 season.
Second and third doubles featured the experienced senior captains Dickinson and Chloe Cohen and Langdon and Leanne Hofstead. According to Coach Catalano, both doubles teams outsmarted their opponents and exploited their weaknesses.
“My seniors are playing with poise and are setting the perfect example for the new girls. Their leadership is outstanding,” Catalano said.
Again, the lower half of the singles lineup proved how crucial their role is, showing victories from third through sixth singles.
The Blue Devils look to continue their hot streak with another SUNYAC matchup on Wednesday versus Geneseo at Steele Hall at 3 p.m.
As for the rest of the season, Coach Catalano says he wants to stay positive and take things one match at a time.