GENEVA, N.Y.— The William Smith College tennis team opened its season this weekend hosting the Mary Hosking Invitational at the HWS Tennis Center. Schools that participated in this invitational were SUNY Geneseo, Ithaca College, Nazareth College, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), University of Rochester, St. Lawrence University, Union College and William Smith. 
 
The Herons had a strong first showing against tough competition this weekend, with sophomore Haley Levine carrying the Herons in both the A flight singles as well as the A flight doubles with junior Natalie Haythorn.
 
Flight A Singles
 
Levine started off strong as she defeated RIT's  Maya Clinard, 8-5, followed by another win against Molly Jespersen of St. Lawrence in a close match, 8-7 (8-6). Levine then fell in the semifinals to eventual A Flight singles winner, Josephine Libby from the University of Rochester, 8-0. 
 
Flight B Singles
 
First-year Mae Kellersman put up a great performance in her first collegiate outing as she downed Ali Klee from Nazareth, 8-2. Kellersman then fell to eventual B Flight singles winner, Ariane Karera from St. Lawrence, 8-1. 
 
Flight C Singles
 
First Year Grace Magna started out hot with an 8-3 win over RIT's Philiasophia Wood. Magna was then bested by Claire Langille from Union by a score of 8-3.
 
Flight D Singles
 
Senior Jamie Fine started off strong with a convincing 8-0 win over Victoria Cioni from Nazareth. Fine then fell to eventual D Flight singles winner, Sabrina Cheung from Ithaca. 
 
Flight A Doubles
After a first-round loss against RIT's Kira Kronenberg and Jacqueline Drozd, 2-8, the pairing of Levine and Haythorn showed strong in the consolation bracket by beating Ava Casell- Lapetina and Madeleine Sutro from Ithaca, 8-5. The duo then defeated Ellis Mckenna and Catherine Zak from Nazareth in the Semifinal. Levine and Haythorn eventually fell in the finals, 8-6, to Grace Nicol and Chara Meidani from Union. 
 
Flight B Doubles 
 
The Heron pair of Kellersman and Magna also showed strong in the B Flight doubles consolation bracket after being bested by Kayla Schenk and Cheung from Ithaca College, 8-4. Kellersman and Magna downed Elena DeRiso and Talia Wutz, 8-1 from Geneseo, followed by a win against Wood and Abby Finchum from RIT, 8-3, in the semifinals. Kellersman and Magna eventually became B Flight doubles consolation bracket winners by defeating Geneseo's Abigail Rockwood and Katie Kujawa, 8-3, in the final match.
 
UP NEXT
 
William Smith will be back in action when it hosts Daemen University at the HWS Tennis Center on Sunday, Sept.10, with first serve scheduled for noon.