September 24, 2016
Oneonta, NY – The Red Dragon women's tennis team got to a season 6-2 record today by besting the Elmira College Soaring Eagles 8-1. The tennis players got back to town yesterday mid- afternoon after a thrilling win against SUNY Farmingdale. With less than 24 hours after they returned the Red Dragons took to the court and wasted little time dismantling their Elmira College opponents.
The doubles competition was a one sided affair in that all three of the Red Dragon women's team won in routine fashion losing just three games overall. The number one team of senior
Alana Green (Pittsford/Pittsford) and freshman Jacqueline Guidice lost only two games and were never threatened compiling their 8-2 triumph. Senior
Kayla Houle (Apalachin/Owego Free Academy) and junior Kaitlin Ferrara were dominant and held down their opponents while collecting their 8-1 victory at number two. The third flight saw sophomore
Faith Haedrich (Islip/Islip) and junior
Samantha Felice (Seneca Falls/Mynderse Academy) shutout their foes 8-0 as they were dominant in all phases of the game.
With a heavy schedule and lots of travel for the Red Dragon women, coach
Lonnie Mitchel used the 3-0 advantage after doubles play to rest several of the starters and use some of the depth the Red Dragon women possess. Guidice playing as a freshman in the number one position today split sets but succumbed in the super breaker in a hard fought battle 4-6, 6-2 (6-10). Sophomore
Michelle Halpern (Rye Brook/Blind Brook) also played out of position today moving into the second flight one spot up from her usual third position and played another tightly contested match. Halpern lost the first set 1-6 and then battle back to take the second set 7-5 that featured long rallies and superbly consistent tennis from both combatants. Halpern got the match into the super tie-breaker and prevailed 10-7 to take home her first victory in that second flight. Houle also played up two positions from her usual five spot and secured a win playing number three flight today in one-sided fashion 6-1, 6-0. Freshman
Danielle Swierczyna (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) made her singles debut in the main lineup at fourth position. She dropped the first two games as nerves were getting the best of her. Swierczyna settled down and rattled off the next 12 games playing flawless consistent tennis 6-2, 6-0 with her parents seeing her play for the first time as a collegian. Ferrara also played singles today, a departure from her usual doubles position and secured an easy 6-0, retired win as her opponent pulled out due to injury. Senior
Valerie Joern (Poughkeepsie/Poughkeepsie) saw her first action of the season and used the opportunity to display steady nerves and was never in trouble securing the only double bagel of the day 6-0, 6-0.
The SUNY Oneonta Red Dragon women's tennis team goes back on the road for the tennis version of the Battle of the Red Dragons against their arch rivals SUNY Cortland beginning at 3:30 PM on the campus of SUNY Cortland on Tuesday, September 27
th.
