ORLANDO, Fla.— The William Smith tennis team continued its spring break trip in Florida on Tuesday with two nonconference matches. The Herons fell 5-2 to Wisconsin-Eau Claire before bouncing back with a 5-2 win over Colby-Sawyer. William Smith is now 3-3 on the season.
In doubles play against the Blugolds, William Smith took an early lead, securing the doubles point with victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Senior Natalie Haythorn and junior Marin Montagne edged Samantha Fuchs and Anna Lee 6-4 at the No. 1 spot, while junior Haley Levine and sophomore Grace Magna claimed a 6-4 win over Morgan Dekan and Liv Herzog at No. 2.
Wisconsin-Eau Claire responded well in singles play, winning five of six singles matches to clinch the victory. The lone Heron win in singles play came from sophomore Mae Kellersman as she downed Dekan in a thrilling match in the No. 3 spot. Kellersman defeated Dekan 5-7, 6-1, 13-11 for her third win of the year in the No. 3 spot.
Levine and first-year Bethany Walker fought hard in singles play for William Smith. Levine fell to Fuchs 7-5, 6-4 in the No. 1 spot, while Walker dropped a 7-5. 7-6 (7-3) decision to Beatriz Felchak in the No. 6 spot.
In the afternoon, the Herons took on Colby-Sawyer in a match that was originally scheduled for Sunday but postponed due to the weather. William Smith got back in the win column as it defeated the Chargers 5-2.
The Herons started strong in doubles play, claiming the point with wins at the top two spots. At No. 1, Levine and Magna defeated Sky Jara and Maria Espinosa Lopez 6-2, while at No. 2, senior Julia Pida and junior Maddy Buck bested Payton Dugan and Avery Nielsen 6-2. The third doubles match went unfinished as William Smith already secured the doubles point.
The Herons dominated in singles play, winning five out of the six matches. Haythorn outlasted Dugan in a tiebreaker 6-4, 4-6,10-3 at the No. 1 spot, while Montagne took down Espinosa Lopez 6-3, 6-3 in the No. 3 spot.
Walker continued her strong play, defeating Nielsen 6-1, 6-0 in the No. 4 position to move to 3-3 on the season in dual match singles play. At No. 5, first-year Mia Jacobs delivered a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Mei Genest.
Rounding out the victory, senior Emma Johnston battled past Calie Valeri in a tiebreaker 4-6, 6-2,10-7 at the No. 6 spot.
UP NEXT:
William Smith will conclude its spring break slate Wednesday, March 19, with an early morning matchup against No. 37 Hope. First serve is set for 7:30 a.m. at the USTA National Campus.
