Mary Butkus, WUSTL Photo ServicesThe Washington University men’s and women’s tennis teams traveled to California over spring break to attempt to continue their early season success. The 17th-ranked men’s squad came into the week on fire after defeating two top-20 teams, Mary Washington and Washington and Lee. The Bears looked to keep their pace against 22nd-ranked Carnegie Mellon, Colorado College and the heavyweight University of Redlands.
The Bears continued their early season success with a pair of big wins over Carnegie Mellon 7-0 and Colorado College 6-1. The University received wins across the board. They won all their singles matches and swept the doubles bracket 3-0. Senior and captain Ari Rosenthal led the way with a straight set 6-0, 6-0 win. Against Colorado College the Bears kept their stroke and won 6-1 with wins coming in five out of the six singles, as well as walking away with another sweep of the doubles.
The biggest test for the team over the week came against the University of Redlands. Redlands, which is ranked ninth in the country, is a Division III powerhouse. Over the past few years the Bears have been roughed up against a strong Redlands team. However, this year proved to be a heavyweight bout. The Bears came in ranked 17th in the nation and undefeated, but still had a great deal to prove to themselves and the nation.
The Bears got a pair of big singles wins from seniors Rosenthal and William McMahan. The Bears also took the doubles point with a 2-1 win with match victories from Rosenthal/freshman Charlie Cutler and freshmen Trevis Bowman/Nirmal Choradia. The match was decided in two heart-breaking singles losses, however, with Cutler edged out 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 and senior Captain Zack Fayne losing 6-4, 6-4.
Even though the Bears notched their first loss of the season, the team remains optimistic.
“I thought we played pretty well throughout the week. I think that our loss to Redlands was more impressive than the wins we had against Carnegie Mellon and Colorado College. While it was nice to keep our winning streak alive, I thought the level of play was the highest against Redlands,” said Rosenthal.
The Bears aren’t satisfied with moral victories and don’t view this match as one. This match is an example of the talent and skill level the Bears posses. They have the firepower to compete with the nation’s best on a day-to-day basis, they believe.
“I think we gained some more confidence that we can compete with anyone in the country,” said Rosenthal.
After dropping their first match 6-3 against DePauw University on March 4 and then redeeming themselves with a 5-4 win against Denison University on March 5, the 15th-ranked women’s team headed to California to prove its mettle.
The team opened up competition with a 7-2 upset over No. 21 California Lutheran University on March 13. Like the men’s team, women’s doubles was unstoppable, as the team did not lose one doubles match on the day. On the singles side, the Bears won four of six matches. No. 1 doubles partners junior Erin Fleming and freshman Carrie Preston, who are a team-best 12-2 in doubles play, came away with an 8-1 win while the team of freshman Shweta Pai and Zwick won 8-3. Sophomore Ashley Cook and freshman Ania Tchergueiko won their match 8-6 as well.
The next match proved to be the squad’s first and only bump in the road over the weekend. Like the men, the Lady Bears were unable to upend fifth-ranked Redlands as the squad lost two of three doubles matches and won only two singles matches in the 6-3 defeat to a very tough Redlands team.
After their loss, the team members managed to recover and walk away with a win against Colorado College in an 8-1 showing. As in their opening match against Brandeis, the Lady Bears swept doubles play and won five of six singles matches. In singles play, the highlights came on Preston’s heels, as the freshman improved to 20-2 on the season at No. 1 singles as she came away with a 6-4, 6-1 victory.
The Bears are now coming into a very important time of the season leading up to the UAA Championships on April 21-23.
“We are playing really strong and very well coming into April,” said head coach Kelly Stahlhuth. “We are gelling as a team, and everyone is holding up their bargain and excelling their potential. Everyone is acting like a team and there is not one person who is carrying the weight more than anyone else. Everyone is showing great team loyalty, spirit and support.”
The Bears will be back in action this Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. as they host University of Illinois-Springfield and Graceland University. Both matches will be played at the Tao Tennis Center.