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AVRIL KING
Social Media Manager
The Fredonia women’s tennis team kicked off their season this weekend, facing off first against D’Youville on Friday and SUNY Cortland on Saturday.
The first game, which took place on Fredonia’s courts, seemed to be a nice, simple entry into the season. The Blue Devils were able to overpower the D’Youville spartans, winning the match 8-1.
At first singles, sophomore Anna Chiacchia defeated her opponent with a score of 6-0, 6-1. Playing second singles, junior Olivia Miller finished her game at 6-0, 6-0.
Teammate Sarah Bunk, a freshman, followed suit at third singles, finishing her first college match at 6-0, 6-0.
“It was so much fun,” said Bunk following the match. “I feel like I’m getting better, too. I saw in my playing that I’ve already gotten better just being here for two weeks.”
As for the rest of the singles players, senior Chloe Karnisky ended with a score of 6-1, 6-0.
Due to an injury, fifth singles was forfeited to D’Youville. Freshman Taylor Rubens was unable to finish the match when she sprained her ankle in the first set.
Finally, at sixth singles, Avril King won her match at 6-0, 6-0.
The doubles matches allowed the women to collaborate with their teammates and work on their communication.
“We had an easier match, but we communicated really well for what we had to do.” said Bunk who played second doubles with Karnisky.
And clearly they did something right. The pair won their match 8-1.
Coming back from last year to reclaim their positions at first doubles was Miller and Chiacchia. The duo finished their match at 8-2.
“I love playing with [Olivia]. She’s the best doubles partner ever,” said Chiacchia, a mathematics major . “She always knows how to keep me calm and knows what to say. And we also know how to make each other better.”
Finishing the match out at third doubles was Christy May, a freshman, and junior Mallory Mecca with a score of 8-1.
The ladies were relieved to have handily won their first match. However, they had little time to admire their work before loading a bus and traveling to Cortland the next day.
Chiacchia returned to first singles but lost to her opponent 1-6, 2-6. Miller was able to defeat Cortland’s second doubles player, drawing the match into a tie-break. In the end, her score was 2-6, 6-3, and a tie-break score of 15 to 13 points.
Bunk also beat her Cortland opponent at third singles, finishing at 6-4, 6-3.
Fourth singles player, junior Adriana Speach lost to her challenger 2-6, 3-6, as did King at fifth singles with the same score.
Mecca, who played fifth singles, was defeated by her opponent 1-6, 0-6.
The doubles teams did not find much luck as well. First doubles players Chiacchia and Miller finished 4-8.
Bunk and Speach, however, were able to pull a win with a score of 8-4.
“We were in a really tight match and we were able to pull through and win four straight games. Then we won the set,” said Bunk.
Lastly, King and Mecca lost their third doubles match with a close score of 6-8.
The overall score of the match, 3-6, left Cortland with a win.
“We played well against D’Youville,” said tennis coach Greg Catalano. “But we were a little flat against Cortland. I wish we had given them a better battle.
Nonetheless, Catalano remains optimistic for the matches ahead.
“We should get better as the season goes on. Everybody has to pull for everybody. We are a community; that’s how this works,” he said.
Looking forward to the week ahead, the Blue Devils will face off against Penn State Behrend at home on Tuesday. Then they will move on to two SUNYAC rivals and will travel to Geneseo on Thursday and then Brockport on Saturday.
The women’s tennis team has gotten the ball rolling. They have kept their attitudes positive, and now they are hoping for more wins.