No. 16 women’s tennis (1-1, 0-1 NESCAC) fell to the No. 10 Amherst Mammoths (2-0, 1-0 NESCAC) in a tight 4-3 match last Saturday. While the Ephs struggled in their doubles matches, they went on to win three singles matches, although it was not enough to secure the victory.
“This weekend was obviously a tough loss, but I’m proud of the way everyone on our team fought and competed,” Julia Zhang ’27 told the Record. “We took the lead in five of six singles courts, and we were only a few points away from a win. The result is something to help motivate us for the rest of the season, not a roadblock.”
Starting off the day in doubles matches at Ludlow Tennis Center in Ludlow, Mass., Margaux Molyneux ’27 and co-captain Yuu Ishikawa ’25 battled against their Mammoth opponents, but ultimately fell 6-2. In the No. 2 doubles, Mia Roets ’28 and co-captain Jane Ladaga ’26 fought a close battle that ended in a 6-3 defeat. The Mammoths took quick control of the final match, as No. 3 doubles Mia Thomann ’26 and Ahn Lin ’27 fell 6-1.
Despite the tough competition, Roets told the Record that the Ephs were tenacious and maintained positive energy throughout the match. “One of the best parts of the weekend was how much energy we brought,” she said. “Whether we were on the court or on the sidelines, our team made our presence known.”
The results of the singles matches, however, foretell a promising season for the Ephs. While No. 1, 5, and 6 singles players Ishikawa, Ladaga, and Roets were bested by the Mammoths, No. 2, 3, and 4 singles players Zhang, Molyneux, and Thomann all walked away from their matches victorious.
As the season progresses, Roets said that she wants to turn her attention to the basics of tennis. “I want to focus on the little things that make a big difference,” she said. “Of course, there are technical aspects I need to improve [on], but what I really want is to master the fundamentals. I think so much of tennis is about simplicity, and doing the basic things well under pressure.”
She added that she also wants to prioritize her teammates. “Beyond that, one of my biggest goals is to be an active presence for my teammates,” she said. “I want to create an atmosphere where we thrive, where we lift each other up, and where we make it impossible for the other team to ignore us.”
While a loss to the Mammoths always hurts, the team hopes to add to its impressive tally of 10 NCAA Div. III Championships this season.
Both Roets and Zhang said they are looking forward to the team’s spring break trip to San Diego and Claremont, Calif., where they will play Colby (2-1, 2-1 NESCAC), the University of Redlands (3-3), Pomona (1-6), and Point Loma Nazarene University (6-2) as a break from New England’s suboptimal tennis conditions. “I know all of us have been eager to see the sun and get back to playing outdoors,” Zhang said.
