Women's College Tennis
Rider University 4, Monmouth University 3
LAWRENCEVILLE?Despite losing the doubles point, the Rider University women's tennis team defeated Monmouth 4-3 on Thursday in the 2008 home opener. “It is very difficult to win a match without winning the doubles point,” said head coach Ed Torres. “It happens only about 10 percent of the time so what happened today is pretty rare.”
With the match tied at three, junior Kristina Paich (Stanhope/Lenape Valley Regional) clinched the win for Rider (1-1) with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 straight set effort at number one singles.
“I saw that we had lost the singles match that was played next to mine so I kind of realized it was all on me and that it was all tied up," Paich said. "There was some pressure but I was able to handle it. I didn't try to over do anything and just played each point with patience.”
Also for the Broncs, freshman Tricia Ashmore (Sparta), in only her second collegiate match, won 6-1, 6-1 at third singles and teamed with fellow rookie Danielle White (Reading, Pa./Reading) for an 8-1 win at second doubles.
Rider senior Danielle Morse (Edison/Hopewell Valley) won 6-3, 6-0 at second singles with freshman Allison Clay (East Brunswick) also winning 6-2, 6-2 at fifth singles.
“Tricia [Ashmore] was a double winner for us today and Allison [Clay] won her first match,” said Torres. “The rookies really stepped up for us today and we needed that in a 4-3 match. Everyone in the lineup contributed to the win and played their best. We had four rookies on the court and they held their own.”
Monmouth defeated the Broncs 6-1 last season with Paich picking up the only Bronc win in a three-set thriller.
“The new players that we've picked up are great,” Paich said about her teammates. “All of the players, returnees included, are playing their hearts out and we have a chance to turn into a pretty good team. I feel like we're going to have a lot of wins this year.”
Both the Rider men's and women's tennis teams will host Delaware State in a non-conference match on Sunday at noon.
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