Women's Tennis Stays Unbeaten in CC Play, Edges F&M 5-4

Natalie Williams
Natalie Williams

LANCASTER, Pa. – The Haverford College women's tennis team won its battle of unbeaten teams in the Centennial Conference with a 5-4 victory at Franklin & Marshall on Saturday. The Fords (2-4, 2-0 CC), ranked No. 11 in the Atlantic South Region, went up 2-1 after doubles and finished off their win by splitting singles play against the home-standing Diplomats (3-4, 1-1 CC).

Natalie Williams and Ananya Prakash got the Fords started on Saturday with an 8-4 win in the second doubles match. With today's victory, that pairing is now 3-1 playing together at No. 2 doubles this spring, including a perfect 3-0 mark in Centennial Conference play. Sarah Evenson and Claire Johnson gave the Fords the early lead as they came through in a hard-fought 8-6 match at No. 3 doubles. That pairing is now a perfect 2-0 in conference matches. Franklin & Marshall's only victory in doubles came at No. 1 doubles where the Diplomats' regionally-ranked duo came away with an 8-3 win.

Haverford secured the match by winning the Nos. 2-4 singles matches. Claire Johnson had the most convincing of those victories as she was a 7-5, 6-2 winner at No. 4. She is now 2-0 in matches at No. 4 in the lineup, including a pair of Centennial Conference victories. Natalie Williams played No. 2 singles and pulled out a crucial 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory. Her victory makes her 2-1 in conference action with both of those wins coming out of the second spot. That match also served as the decisive fifth team point on Saturday.

Clara Farrehi kept her perfect Centennial Conference record alive this season with a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles. Farrehi is now 3-0 in conference singles matches and has won four matches overall this year. Franklin & Marshall won the No. 1 singles match by a 6-1, 6-0 score. The Diplomats other two victories came at No. 5 and No. 6 where the hosts escaped with back-to-back 6-4 matches in both of those spots in the lineup.

Women's tennis has just one match this upcoming week as the Fords will be at home on Wednesday, April 3 against Muhlenberg. First serves in that match are slated for 4 p.m.