HAVERFORD, Pa. – Robyn Himelstein picked up a team point for the Haverford College women's tennis team Saturday at home against Franklin & Marshall. Playing the rematch of last year's Centennial Conference semifinal, it was the Diplomats (6-3, 2-2 CC) that held the upper hand in today's contest, winning by an 8-1 score. The Fords (10-3, 3-2 CC) came into the day ranked No. 10 in the Atlantic South Region, while Franklin & Marshall was No. 15 in the latest rankings.
Himelstein's victory came at her usual No.3 singles position against Sara Haas. The Fords' junior rolled to the straight set victory with identical 6-2 wins in both the first and second sets. With her latest victory, Himelstein becomes the third player on this year's team to reach the 10-win plateau. She is 4-1 in Centennial Conference singles matches this season.
Himelstein and her partner, Caitlin Gallagher, nearly pulled off the win at No. 1 doubles to start the day. The team's top tandems evenly split the first 16 games of their match, but it was F&M that emerged with a 7-4 win in the tiebreak. Gallagher had another close miss in singles as she took Nicole Russo, ranked No. 20 in singles in the region, into a third set. The Fords' No. 1 singles player forced the third set with a 6-2 win in the second. However, she fell by a hard-fought 6-4 score in the decisive set.
Greta Koch nearly forced a third set in her match at No. 2 singles. After splitting the first 12 games of the second set, she dropped a 7-5 tiebreak to be edged out in her slot. Abby Payson also came up just short of third set with a 6-4 second set defeat at No. 4 singles. At No. 5 and No. 6 singles, the Fords's Jessica Liu and Alyssa Lavin played scheduled eight-game pro sets with the team score decided. Both players were tied at seven-all before dropping the final two games in their respective matches.
Women's tennis will be on the road for a pair of Centennial Conference matches next week. Up first will be a trip to Muhlenberg on Tuesday at 4 p.m. The Fords will travel to Dickinson next Saturday with first serves scheduled for 1 p.m.