The women’s tennis team of Denison University experienced a challenging defeat in their season opener against Carnegie Mellon University, marking the second consecutive season in which they have been bested by this formidable opponent. The Big Red, ranked No. 20, endured a 6-3 loss at their home base in the Mitchell Center, succumbing to the No. 10-ranked Tartans on Saturday. This defeat comes after a 9-0 loss suffered by Denison last season on the road.
Nevertheless, there were notable performances from the Denison team. The freshman pairing of Dasha Chistyakova and Maia Nowicki emerged triumphant in a tiebreaker, securing a 2-1 lead for Denison after doubles with an exhilarating 8-7 (8-6) win over Danna Taylor and Divya Venkatarama at No. 1 doubles. Additionally, senior Kendall Schrader and junior Caroline Lopez clinched an 8-6 victory over Anna Chow and Zoe Angell in the No. 2 spot.
Moving on to singles competition, the Carnegie Mellon team gained momentum and acquired a 4-2 lead. Despite the valiant efforts of the Denison players, they were unable to secure victory. However, Nowicki distinguished herself by obtaining Denison’s solitary singles win with a three-set decision, ultimately emerging victorious with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 triumph over Anika Joshi at No. 5 singles.
Looking forward, the Big Red will be facing a series of challenging matchups in the upcoming W&L Invitational. They are scheduled to travel to Lexington, Virginia, to compete against three nationally-ranked teams on February 24-25. The action commences with a highly anticipated match against No. 8-ranked Johns Hopkins University at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 24, followed by a showdown with No. 33-ranked Christopher Newport University at 4 p.m. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, February 25, with a battle against the hosts, No. 25-ranked Washington & Lee University at 10 a.m.
It is imperative to recognize that each match presents an opportunity for the team to learn and grow, and the experience gained from these challenging encounters will undoubtedly contribute to their development and success in the long term. The determination and resilience displayed by the Denison team are commendable, and they are certain to approach the upcoming matches with the same spirit and drive.
As the season progresses, the team will continue to demonstrate their passion and dedication to the sport, and their supporters will undoubtedly stand by them every step of the way. Despite the initial setback, the future holds numerous possibilities and opportunities for the Denison women’s tennis team, and they are poised to make their mark in the realm of collegiate tennis.