Women's College Tennis
Saint Peter's 6, Rider University 1
LAWRENCEVILLE ? Despite dominating the doubles competition, the Rider University women's tennis team lost 6-1 to Saint Peter's College in its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match. “It was the first MAAC match for us,” said head coach Ed Torres. “We competed well. Saint Peter's had an experienced team. They were steadier on the ground strokes than we were. They kept the ball alive a little bit longer. A lot of the points were contested, but we just didn't get them. That comes with experience.”
The Broncs took two of the three doubles matches to earn their only point of the match.
The first doubles team of junior Kristina Paich (Stanhope/Lenape Valley Regional) and senior Danielle Morse (Edison/Hopewell Valley) edged out the competition 9-7 after falling behind several breaks.
"We were down 5-1," said Morse. "Something happened and we started playing well together as a team. We played back where we were more comfortable and then approached the net at the right time. We started to attack their weaknesses as much as possible and were successful."
Getting the other win was sophomore Amanda Matticks (Sewell/Washington Township) and freshman Allison Clay (East Brunswick). They took their third doubles match 8-6.
“The doubles teams were successful because they were more aggressive at the nets,” Torres said. “They served well and just played well overall. It was the bright light of the competition for us. I'm happy that we won the point; most of the time the match hinges on that point.”
Rider lost all six singles matches in straight sets, allowing an easy sweep and victory.
“Most of the time when you win the doubles point you win the match because you only have to win three singles points,” said Torres. “This is the first time I can remember wining the doubles point and not winning a single singles match. It's odd.”
The women's team will travel to Loudonville, N.Y. on Saturday, October 4th to take on Siena in a conference match at 11:00am.
“Now we've got to put the singles and doubles together,” added Torres. "Its going to be an important match."
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