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Women's Tennis Racks Up Pair of Commanding Victories

Women's Tennis Racks Up Pair of Commanding Victories

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Haverford College women's tennis team won 17 of a possible 18 matches between singles and doubles on Wednesday as the Fords (3-1) cruised to an 8-1 win over St. Mary's in the afternoon before a convincing 9-0 win against St. Scholastica during the evening competition. The Fords went a combined 12-0 in their singles matches, while posting a 5-1 record on the day in doubles play.

Over the course of the two matches, the Fords' No. 1 doubles pairing allowed just three games total. In the middle pairing, Abby Payson and Greta Koch matched the team's overall record as they are now 3-1 together in doubles play. The No. 2 duo picked up 8-6 wins in both matches Wednesday.

The Fords' Jessica Liu played both No. 3 doubles matches. In the opening match, she and partner Kristen Andersen came up just short in an 8-5 defeat. Liu and Courtney Ahmed bounced back with an 8-2 win in the third doubles position in the evening match against St. Scholastica.

Gallagher and Koch held down the top two singles slots on Wednesday. Gallagher allowed just one game to her opponent at No. 1 singles against St. Mary's. Playing No. 2 singles in the evening, Gallagher won 6-2, 6-1. Koch won 6-2, 6-2 in her No. 2 singles match to start the day. The freshman allowed just one game to St. Scholastica's Alexis Gunderson for her first victory at No. 1 this spring.

Himelstein, Payson, and Liu were also a perfect 2-0 on the day. Each of these four players moved to a perfect 4-0 on the spring in the process. Himelstein used a 10-point tiebreak to win her first match at No. 3 against St. Mary's. She then allowed just three games total in her straight set victory to close the day. Payson, playing No. 4, was consistent to say the least. She won 6-3, 6-3 against St. Mary's before a 6-1, 6-1 victory in the evening. Liu allowed just six games over her four sets. This included a 6-0 set win to start the day and a 6-1, 6-1 straight set win to close it.

The Fords elected to go with Ahmed for the opening match of the day at No. 6 singles. Like Himelstein, she came through with a 10-point tiebreak win against St. Mary's. She needed a 6-4 second set win before putting the finishing touches on a 10-7 victory in the tiebreaker. Caroline Steliotes made her Haverford debut in the evening match against St. Scholastica. She won her collegiate debut 6-4, 6-2.

Women's tennis has two more matches on the docket for Thursday as the Fords are scheduled to play Berry and Illinois Wesleyan.