Signature wins: The Haverford College women's tennis team returned to the postseason for the eighth time in the past nine seasons during the 2017 season. For the seventh time in those eight playoff trips, the Fords advanced to the conference semifinals. However, what was perhaps most impressive was the fashion in which the Fords did so.
Finishing fourth in the regular season standings, Haverford was paired up against fifth-seeded Washington College during the Centennial Conference first round. A rematch of regionally-ranked opponents which went 5-4 in favor of the Fords, Haverford jumped all over the Shorewomen in the second meeting. Haverford had amassed a 5-1 lead when the match reached completion and was out to a commanding lead in one of the other singles matches and locked in tight third sets on the other two courts in what turned out to be the Fords' third regionally-ranked victory of the 2017 season.
Season Notes: Haverford went 10-8 overall and 7-3 in the Centennial Conference … Both the overall and conference records were three win improvements from the previous season under first-year head coach Arik Zeevy … Haverford has now made the conference tournament in eighth of the past nine seasons, including seven trips to at least the conference semifinals during that time … After starting the season unranked, Haverford rose to as high as No. 12 in the Atlantic South Regional rankings and finished the regular season at No. 13 … Jane Bary was named to the Centennial Conference All-Sportsmanship Team and tied with Jessica Liu at nine victories in singles during the spring … Liu won a team-best 12 singles matches overall, including a perfect 8-0 record against conference opponents in the regular season … Clara Farrehi led the team with 13 wins in doubles … Liu and Farrehi were 9-4 together in doubles while Emily Shutman and Bary were 9-3 in doubles during the spring … Abby Payson became the first women's tennis player honored as Haverford's William W. Ambler '45 Award recipient for the highest GPA among senior student-athletes … Payson was one of seven players from Haverford recognized on the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll … Greta Koch has named been named the Centennial Conference Player of the Week twice during her collegiate career after winning the award on March 6 this season and during the 2015 season.
Awards:
- ITA Team Academic Award
- ITA Scholar-Athletes: Maya Ahmed, Izzy Angstman, Jane Bary, Renata DiDonato, Clara Farrehi, Rory Lewis, Jessica Liu, Ali Morrow, Abby Payson, Jia-Ling Tuan, Annika Ulrich
- Centennial Conference All-Sportsmanship Team: Jane Bary
- Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll: Courtney Ahmed, Jane Bary, Renata DiDonato, Rory Lewis, Jessica Liu, Abby Payson, Annika Ulrich
- Centennial Conference Player of the Week: Greta Koch (3/6)
- William W. Ambler '45 Award: Abby Payson
- Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area: Abby Payson
Looking ahead: Haverford returns the majority of its lineup and appears to be well positioned to continue its success in the conference and across the region. Losses from graduation will be two-year senior captain Abby Payson '17 who saw time at No. 1 doubles and No. 3 singles while fellow two-year captain Jessica Liu '17 played No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles. Emily Shutman and Greta Koch assumed the top two singles positions. Shutman was a part of 11 doubles victories and five singles victories as she played No. 1 singles during the spring. Koch, who was playing No. 2 singles for the third straight season, has a career record of 27-24 in singles and 27 more victories in doubles as she teamed up with Payson for the top pairing. Jane Bary played No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles, she went a combined 21-6 in her sophomore campaign. Rory Lewis contested only singles, but won six matches – including five wins against conference foes during the regular season in addition to clinching the playoff win against WAC. Farrehi will also enter her sophomore season after a standout doubles campaign in 2017.