By Ian Snowdeal
The Springfield College women’s tennis team (3-1) earned its third win of the season following a dominant 8-1 victory over New England Men’s and Women’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe, Clark University Cougars (1-2).
This was the Pride’s second matchup against Clark after it opened up the season with an 8-1 victory on April 3.
It was a beautiful day for the women’s team, as its only loss was due to third singles Juliette Piazza being pulled from her match with an ankle injury.
The Pride swept doubles, as the duo at No. 1, Rielly Malz and Gabby Heaney-Secord, won 8-0, No. 2 doubles Piazza and Heidi Schuman won 8-3 and No. 3 doubles Kate Rosselli and Hailey Higgins won 8-3.
In singles, No. 1, Malz won 6-2, 6-4. No. 2 singles Heaney-Secord won 6-2, 7-5. No. 3 singles Piazza lost 6-3, 1-0. No. 4 singles Shuman won 6-3, 7-5. No. 5 singles Rosselli won 6-4, 6-4 and No. 6 singles Higgins won 6-3, 6-2.
The match of the day came from Heaney-Secord in singles who went back and forth in her second game against Hannah Russo. Heaney-Secord was able to secure the win after Russo’s shot went long giving her a 7-5 victory. The Pride cheered on as that match was last to finish.
“The women did an awesome job competing today. This was a team that was gritty and made us earn it,” said head coach Mike Louis.
Louis has been impressed with the team’s growth emotionally this season.
“They’ve been managing their emotions, it can be easy as a competitor to get ahead of yourself or get down on yourself. They’ve done a good job at accepting those as they come, and getting focused on what’s important now,” he said.
The Pride will host Babson College (2-0) next Sunday, May 2, in their last match of the season.
Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics