HAVERFORD, Pa. - In a highly anticipated matchup at the Bramall Courts, the Haverford College women's tennis team faced off against rival Swarthmore, a squad ranked 20th in the nation. Although Haverford put up a valiant effort, Swarthmore ultimately came out on top, winning the match 7-2. The Fords are now 6-7 overall, and 4-2 in Centennial Conference play, while the Garnet improve to 11-2, 5-1 CC.
The doubles competition was the first to be played, with Swarthmore winning all three matches to claim some early momentum.
Crystal Xu and Lola Diaz defeated Abhishree Menon and Summer Williams with a score of 8-2 to open doubles the competition at the third flight. In the top flight match, Erica Stutz and Kathleen Shiffer defeated the regionally-ranked pairing of Rachael Fitzgerald and Abbey Russano in a close battle, with a score of 8-6. In the second flight match, Oviya Kumaran and Spencer Watts defeated Ellie Esterowitz and Mimi Lavin also with a score of 8-6 to wrap up doubles action.
Moving on to the singles competition, Haverford was able to secure two wins out of the six matches. In the top flight singles match, Abbey Russano defeated Kathleen Shiffer in straight sets, with a score of 6-3, 2-1, retired as Shiffer was forced to bow out due to injury during the second frame.
In the fourth flight match, Fitzgerald claimed victory over Lisa Messier of Swarthmore with a score of 6-4, 6-4. Fitzgerald played an excellent match, showing great composure and determination throughout. She now has a 23-11 record in singles action at Haverford, including an impressive 11-6 record this season.
In the other singles matches, Swarthmore came out on top. At the sixth flight, Lara Geib defeated Erika Phanord with a score of 6-2, 6-3 to move the Garnet to the brink of a match clinch. Lola Diaz later defeated Mimi Lavin with a score of 6-3, 7-5 at the third flight to clinch things for the Garnet.
In the fifth flight showdown, Daniela Padron-Castillo defeated Summer Williams in a close match, eventually prevailing by a score of 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 after Williams rallied to win the second game in emphatic fashion. In the second flight match, Oviya Kumaran also got the better of Esterowitz in a three-set thriller, with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Haverford will now look to bounce back from this loss in their upcoming matches, as Haverford now takes an excursion back into non-conference play, heading to TCNJ for a 4 p.m. matchup in Ewing, N.J .tomorrow. Conference play continues with the final conference road matchup of the season Saturday, a trip to F&M at 12 p.m.