Elizabethtown College’s men’s and women’s tennis teams played against Wilkes University on Saturday, April 13 in Landmark Conference action. It was a very windy day and it made for challenging conditions. Unfortunately, both Blue Jay teams fell to the Colonels.
The women’s team went in with a 6-6 record but lost by a final of 5-4. There were three doubles matches and six singles matches played. Fourth-years Kaylee Mustard and Morgan Bleicher won their doubles match with a final score of 8-6.
“I was really excited to get some points for my team,” Mustard said. “Everything I do is for them, so I always like to do my best to contribute in any way possible.”
Third-years Adriana Burmeister and Gabriella Palladini had a commanding win in their doubles match with a final score of 8-3. This led the team to take a 2-1 lead before the start of the singles matches. However, the team did not fare as well in their singles matchups.
Mustard won her singles match with a score of 6-2 in straight sets. Bleicher followed with a win in hers, scoring 6-2 and 6-3 in two sets and commented on her performance.
“Individually, I was happy to get two wins in singles and doubles, especially using my net play against Wilkes to my advantage,” Bleicher said.
The women came within one match of clinching, but Wilkes was able to bounce back clinching the conference victory. Following the match, Bleicher highlighted the ups and downs of the day’s outcome.
“Today’s match was tough because of the wind, but I am proud of my teammates for working through these difficult conditions,” Bleicher said.
Mustard also offered her perspective on the loss after the game.
“It was definitely a tough team loss since the score was so close but our team really did fight hard and it came down to the tiniest of things, so it truly was a great matchup for us,” Mustard said.
Their next matchup wasscheduled on Sunday, April 14 against Lycoming College.
The men’s team went in with a record of 5-7. The Colonels have been undefeated in all their away matchups this year, but the men’s team came into Saturday’s game with momentum, coming off a strong win the previous weekend. Unfortunately, they’d fall in this conference match to Wilkes with a final of 6-3.
The men’s team scored one win in their three doubles matchups and two wins in their six singles matchups. It was second-year Issac Reichenbach and first-year Kyler Henne who won their doubles match with a score of 8-3. The Colonels took a 2-1 lead after the doubles.
Fourth-year Luke Paulson gave the Blue Jays some hope with his win in his singles match, taking the first and second sets 6-3 and 6-4. Henne also won his singles match with a score of 6-3, 7-5. It was the final singles game for the men, and he had to win his match with a tiebreaker. However, the Blue Jays eventually fell to the Colonels, giving Wilkes its second Landmark Conference win of the season.
The men’s next matchup was also scheduled for Sunday, April 14 against Lycoming College.
