Women's College Tennis
Drexel University 7, Rider University 0

LAWRENCEVILLE – Despite a strong performance at first singles from junior Alison Noll, the Rider University women's tennis team lost a non-conference match to Drexel University, 7-0 on Saturday afternoon.

Noll (Monmouth Junction/South Brunswick) lost her match at first singles 6-4, 6-2.

“Alison is at another level of play,” head coach Ed Torres said. “She keeps the ball alive until you make a darn good shot to beat her or lose the point. She played her usual steady self.  She made a few more errors then her opponent and that's why she lost. If you watch her play with no scoreboard, you wouldn't know who was winning.”

Junior Michelle Caravaglio (Manalapan/Freehold) lost at second singles 6-0, 6-1.

Freshmen Kerrin Toner (West Babylon, N.Y.), Alexandria Extejt (Winnie, Texas/East Chambers) and senior Kim Leder (Sicklerville/Timber Creek) all lost at third, fourth and fifth singles 6-0, 6-0.

Freshman Gina Ellen (Westlake Village, Calif) lost at sixth singles 6-1, 6-1.

“There is slight improvement from our players,” Torres said. “Forgetting the scores, there is slight improvement from our players in keeping the ball alive a little bit longer. Instead of maybe three of four times over the net, they're going five or six.”

In doubles play, the team of Noll and Toner lost 8-3 in first doubles.

Caravaglio and Extrjt lost 8-0 while junior Annette Frankowski (Kearny, N.J) and junior Leonora Paul (Hackensack, N.J.) teamed up for third doubles, losing 8-2.

“I'm seeing small improvements with balls going over the net,” Torres added about his team. “I know tennis, and I know this improvement is very gradual. The rallies are lasting a little bit longer, which means that we have a chance of winning more points. If you do that, you possibly win more games. It's a very slow process to improve your tennis from one week to the next.”

The women's tennis team travels to Philadelphia University on Oct. 10.

-RU-