WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Making its debut at the New Haven Tennis Courts in 2022, the New Haven women's tennis team swept a pair of opponents on Friday, defeating Coppin State 6-1 in a morning match before taking a 5-2 decision over Molloy in the afternoon. With the pair of victories, the Chargers improve to 3-1 on the season.
Among the highlights of the day was freshman Valentinna Ferrarini (Caxias do Sul, Brazil) who earned four victories, taking both doubles and singles decision in each end of the doubleheader. Two other Chargers earned a pair of victories on the day, graduate student Gaayatri Shankar (Kochi, India/TocH Public School) and freshman Lucia Placidi (Melbourne, Australia/Distance Education Centre Victoria).
Shankar opened up the morning with a hard fought double victory with partner Karim Carreras (Asuncion, Paraguay/Colegio Bautista de Villa Morra) to set the tone for the match against the Coppin State Eagles., Ferrarini and her partner, fellow Lucia Placidi (Melbourne, Australia/Distance Education Centre Victoria), secured the doubles point against Coppin State, while the pair also earned a 6-4 win at No. 1 doubles in the afternoon against Molloy.
In singles action against Copping State, Ferrarini was impressive earning a sweep of her opponent, 6-0, 6-0, while freshman Alyssa Rodriguez (Tampa, Fla./HB Plant) also faired well against the Eagles, earning a 6-1, 6-1 decision at No. 3 singles.
Against Molloy it was Ferrarini and Placidi who again secured the doubles victory and the first point of the afternoon against the Lions, earning a 6-4 win at No. 1 doubles. Ferrarini would go on to earn a 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 1 singles.
The remaining singles points came from Shankar at No. 3 singles along with freshmen Madi Mabrito (Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas/Samuel V. Champion) and Amaya Goulbourne (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively. Among that freshman pair, Mabrito impressed with a shutout at fifth singles, earning the 6-0, 6-0 win over Molloy's Brooke Williams.
The women's tennis team will return to action in just 48 hours when they host Saint Anslem on Sunday afternoon for a Northeast-10 Conference match. First serve against the Hawks is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
