Lyons drop tough 5-4 women's tennis decision at Smith

October 6, 2007

NORTHAMPTON, MA- The Wheaton College women's tennis team suffered a tough 5-4 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) loss to host Smith College Saturday afternoon.

The Lyons slip to 7-3 overall and 3-3 in the NEWMAC, placing them in a tie for fourth in the conference standings with 3-3 Smith. The Pioneers' six matches have all come in league play.

Smith took the upper hand early, winning two of three doubles matches, as Wheaton freshmen Sarah Geocaris (Newport Beach, CA/Sage Hill School) and Catherine Teague (Manchester, NH/Central) emerged victorious in the top position with an 8-5 final. The Lyons suffered 8-4 and 8-6 losses in the second and third doubles spots, respectively.

Wheaton needed to win four of the six singles matches in order to walk away with the victory, but the Lyons fell just short as Smith needed a tiebreaker in the second set of the third position to clinch the win. Teague surrendered just one game against sophomore Miyu Kikuchi (Tokyo, Japan/Emma Willard School) in the top position, while Geocaris blanked freshman Diana Fiumefreddo (Winchester, VA/John Handley) in the second set after posting a 6-4 decision in the opening frame.

Senior captain Maya Milic-Strkalj (Philadelphia, PA/Friends' Central School) gave the visitors their fourth point of the afternoon with a 7-6, 6-0 triumph over freshman Nicole Anderson (Sherborn, MA/Dover-Sherborn Regional) in the fourth spot. After Wheaton lost in the fifth and sixth spots, the match came down to number three, as Pioneer senior Catherine Lydecker (Conway, NH/Kennett) defeated freshman Ellen Van Faasen (Manchester, MA/Manchester Essex Regional) by a count of 6-2, 7-6.

Wheaton returns to action next Saturday against league opponent Babson College for its home regular season finale at 1:00 p.m.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 7/31/08.
Questions about this page? Use our query form.