GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: March 31, 2021
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LOCATION: North Haven Health and Racquet
North Haven, Conn.
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GAME DAY LINKS |
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THE LEAD
Returning home after a short hiatus from campus, the New Haven women's tennis team looks for its first Northeast-10 conference win of the year Wednesday when they host the Assumption College Greyhounds. First serve between the Greyhounds and the Chargers is scheduled for an early 10:30 a.m., with all the action taking place at North Haven Health and Racquet due to a forecast for rain.
RECENT HISTORY VS ASSUMPTION
In the dozen matches since the Chargers joined the Northeast-10 Conference in 2008, Assumption holds a 9-3 edge with New Haven winning the last two meetings in 2018 and 2019. The Greyhounds won the five meetings before that dating back to 2013.
SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
New Haven comes in looking to break a two-match skid that followed a comeback win over Division I Providence College 4-3 at home in West Haven. Graduate Ivana Andric (Griesheim, Germany) continues to lead the Chargers with three wins on the year, including two at the first doubles position with senior partner Stephanie Gonzalez (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Academia Maria Reina). Senior Lilia Rodriguez (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Colegio Marista) has also earned a trio of victories on the season, two at sixth singles and the other coming at third doubles with sophomore partner Alexa Orlando (Frederick, Md./Middletown).
SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS
Assumption comes to the Nutmeg State looking for its first win of the season, after dropping decisions against Adelphi, Southern New Hampshire, and Le Moyne to open the year. The Greyhounds were swept in each of those matchups, and will look to get into the win column for the first time against New Haven on Wednesday.
CHARGERS RANKED IN SEASON'S FIRST REGIONAL POLL
As announced on Wednesday by the International Tennis Association (ITA), the Blue and Gold enter this week ranked ninth in the season's initial regional poll. The poll, sponsored by Oracle, is voted on by coaches in the region, with the results used to determine a national top 25, both of which are administered and released weekly by the ITA. The Chargers join four other schools from the Northeast-10 in the top-10 that also includes schools from the East Coast Conference (ECC) and the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.
THE 2021 SCHEDULE
After today, the Chargers have five matches remaining in its 11-match regular season schedule for 2021, however dates and times continue to change. Visit NewHavenChargers.com for the latest schedule updates. Due to the ongoing constraints of the CoVID-19 Pandemic, the NE10 adopted a 10-match conference slate which was designed to address interstate travel restrictions throughout the NE10 footprint. As part of that conference slate, the Chargers will play multiple matches against three teams; Adelphi (3 matches), Le Moyne (2 matches) and American International (2 matches).
CHARGERS FIFTH IN PRESEASON POLL
In a poll of the conference's 11 head coaches, the UNH women's tennis team was selected to finish fifth in the Northeast-10. Adelphi received 109 points and nine of the 11 possible first place votes to take the top spot followed by Stonehill who finished just nine points behind while garnering the remaining two first place tallies. Overall, just 18 points separated the top three spots in the poll with Southern New Hampshire coming in at third overall with 91 points. Just ahead of the Chargers in fourth place was Le Moyne with 85 points, while New Haven finished with 70. Following the Blue and Gold was Franklin Pierce (66 points) in sixth place, Bentley (53) in seventh place and Assumption (50) rounding out the top-eight. Saint Anselm (37), Saint Michael's (31) and American International (23) round out the full poll.
UP NEXT
Following the morning meet with Assumption, the Blue and Gold will play their second straight at home when American International College comes to town on Saturday, April 3. First serve at the New Haven Tennis Courts is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. with results available on NewHavenChargers.com following the conclusion of the match.
