Women's tennis win five singles matches in straight sets against Panthers
Nick Johnson
Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: Online Exclusive
Eastern's women's tennis team played two very different matches on the road this past weekend.
The Colonels (5-7) won their first road match of the season against Birmingham-Southern (2-3) before falling to 58th ranked Alabama.
The Colonels earned their first road victory in convincing fashion.
Eastern beat the Panthers 6-1 on Friday. The Colonels won all of the singles matches after losing the doubles point.
Eastern won five of the singles matches in straight sets.
Freshmen Esmira Gheisary won her match over Katherine Jackson 6-1, 6-1. It was Gheisary's sixth consecutive singles victory.
"One of the things I am happiest about with this team has been Esmira's improved play," Coach Rob Oertel said. "She has contributed such a strong presence for us on the court. You can tell that by looking at her win-loss record. I have been very impressed with her so far."
Then the Colonels lost to Alabama 7-0 on Sunday. The 58th-ranked Crimson Tide (6-3) swept the doubles matches and then won five of the six singles matches in straight sets.
Colonel junior Anouk Faure was the only Eastern player to win a set, taking the second set of her match 6-3, before losing the super tiebreak 10-8.
"We have a way to go for this team to fully reach their potential," Oertel said. "We just need to continue getting better each day. I would love to have a better record, but that's not the important thing. We need to continue trying to get better, and be ready to compete for the conference championship."
"The bright spot for us has been the effort level of everyone on the team," Oertel said. "They are giving everything they have every practice, every match. I can't question their effort. That is very commendable."
The Colonels will head back down south for spring break. Eastern will play three matches in three days.
Eastern plays in Daytona Beach against Embry-Riddle on Monday. Embry-Riddle's women's tennis team is ranked fourth in NAIA.
On Tuesday, the Colonels will play against the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. North Florida (6-1) was picked to finish third in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Finally, on Wednesday Eastern will travel to Deland, Florida to play Stetson. The Hatters (6-2) won the regular season Atlantic Sun Conference regular season title last year and were predicted to finish second in the conference this season.
"Three matches in three days isn't anything they can't handle," Oertel said. "This is what we've been preparing for in practice and through conditioning. We'll be alright."
The Colonels (5-7) won their first road match of the season against Birmingham-Southern (2-3) before falling to 58th ranked Alabama.
The Colonels earned their first road victory in convincing fashion.
Eastern beat the Panthers 6-1 on Friday. The Colonels won all of the singles matches after losing the doubles point.
Eastern won five of the singles matches in straight sets.
Freshmen Esmira Gheisary won her match over Katherine Jackson 6-1, 6-1. It was Gheisary's sixth consecutive singles victory.
"One of the things I am happiest about with this team has been Esmira's improved play," Coach Rob Oertel said. "She has contributed such a strong presence for us on the court. You can tell that by looking at her win-loss record. I have been very impressed with her so far."
Then the Colonels lost to Alabama 7-0 on Sunday. The 58th-ranked Crimson Tide (6-3) swept the doubles matches and then won five of the six singles matches in straight sets.
Colonel junior Anouk Faure was the only Eastern player to win a set, taking the second set of her match 6-3, before losing the super tiebreak 10-8.
"We have a way to go for this team to fully reach their potential," Oertel said. "We just need to continue getting better each day. I would love to have a better record, but that's not the important thing. We need to continue trying to get better, and be ready to compete for the conference championship."
"The bright spot for us has been the effort level of everyone on the team," Oertel said. "They are giving everything they have every practice, every match. I can't question their effort. That is very commendable."
The Colonels will head back down south for spring break. Eastern will play three matches in three days.
Eastern plays in Daytona Beach against Embry-Riddle on Monday. Embry-Riddle's women's tennis team is ranked fourth in NAIA.
On Tuesday, the Colonels will play against the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. North Florida (6-1) was picked to finish third in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Finally, on Wednesday Eastern will travel to Deland, Florida to play Stetson. The Hatters (6-2) won the regular season Atlantic Sun Conference regular season title last year and were predicted to finish second in the conference this season.
"Three matches in three days isn't anything they can't handle," Oertel said. "This is what we've been preparing for in practice and through conditioning. We'll be alright."
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