The USM women’s tennis team regrouped after a three-match losing streak as they scored a perfect nine points, routing Pine Manor 9-0 in a non-conference match at the Gorham High school courts on Wednesday.
Sophomore Danielle Ward (Lansing, MI) led the Huskies in a match that highlighted superior play from all players on this year’s squad. Ward, who was playing in her first collegiate match, won number four singles defeating Pine Manor’s Mahalet Vassa 6-0, 6-0.
The Huskies won the first four singles matches and won the number 5 and six matches by default. USM won the number three doubles match by default as well. The freshman on the squad showed poise as they combined to win all of the singles matches, except for Ward’s win. Points were scored by freshman Kristine Brammer (Littleton, NH) who defeated Rennea Reid of Pine Manor 6-0, 6-0, freshman Laura Bell (Hollis, ME) who beat Chelsea Swiger, and freshman Kin Hilchey (Warren, ME) who defeated Lindsey Vaughan. The two doubles matches were won by USM’s sophomore Katelyn Oullete (Lewiston, ME) and freshman Tegan Talbot (Topsham, ME) who upended Reid and Swiger 8-0. The number two doubles match was won by freshman Lori Anne Esmiller (Westbrook, ME) and Samantha Tardif (Biddeford, ME) who beat Vaughan and Vassa also 8-0.
The Huskies, who are now 3-3 on the season after the Pine Manor win, are facing a crucial month ahead of them before they get prepared to play in the LEC Tournament on Oct. 20. A pair of matches against Thomas College on Thursday and Saturday this week, and key conference matchups at Western Connecticut on Oct. 10 and at UMass Boston on Oct. 17 highlight the road ahead for the women’s tennis team. Watch for USM to be in the middle of the pack in the LEC as they look to make a run at their first conference title since 2002.