Fresh off a week under the Florida sun, Bates College women’s tennis returned to campus to commence the home portion of the spring season as the Bobcats welcomed Smith College to Merrill Gymnasium Friday afternoon.
The garnet-and-white coasted to a 9-0 victory over the visiting Pioneers to improve to an even 2-2 record in dual matches in 2022-23.
In doubles competition, top tandem Ally Friedman (Jr.-East Hampton, N.Y.) and Joanna Atwater (Sr.-Short Hills, N.J.) opened at No. 1 with an 8-3 victory over Smith’s duo of Clara and Lili Goshgarian. Bobcat seniors Grace Kennedy (New York, N.Y.) and Laura Littlefield (Ellicott City, Md.) followed by taking down Olivia Monos and Marielle Sauber at No. 2 by a score of 8-7 (7-4).
Elizabeth Frekko (So.-Lake Forest, Ill.) and Isabella Saul (Fy.-Brooklyn, N.Y.) completed the clean sweep in doubles play, topping Dayana Caluna and Miranda Gibson, 8-4, in slot No. 3.
Friedman (6-1, 6-2) and Atwater (6-3, 6-2) split up in singles action, but the result was the same as the teammates collected individual triumphs at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Littlefield outlasted Smith’s Sauber with scores of 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 for the win at No. 3.
Alexandra D’Aquino (Sr.-Weston, Conn.) (6-0, 6-1), Ava Lyon (So.-Naples, Fla.) (6-0, 6-3), and Drew Williams (So.-Guilford, Conn.) (6-0, 6-0) dominated at positions No. 4, 5, and 6, respectively, for Bates.
The Bobcats get right back to action Saturday with a NESCAC home match vs. #8 Tufts. Start time is slated for 2:00 p.m. in Merrill Gymnasium.
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