WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Battling not just an opponent but Spring showers, the New Haven women's tennis team opened up its Spring slate with a 6-0 shutout of the visiting Holy Cross Crusaders from the Division 1 Patriot League on Wednesday afternoon. With the win, which was delayed twice due to rain and wet courts, New Haven improves to 9-3 in 2023-24.
New Haven opened up the afternoon winning the doubles point, which was held up briefly by the first rain relay. The double victory for the Chargers came with wins at first and second doubles with the first doubles pair of Valentinna Ferrini and Karim Carreras (Asuncion, Paraguay/Colegio Bautista de Villa Morra) winning 6-2 and the second doubles pair of Lucia Placidi (Melbourne, Australia/Distance Education Centre Victoria) and Risako Umekuni (Saitama, Japan/Shumei Eiko) sweeping their opponents 6-0.
In singles action, the Chargers would pick up points at second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth singles as the No 1. pairing of Ferrarini for New Haven and Ahana Nagarkatti from Holy Cross going unfinished as they were halted in a third-set tiebreaker due to rain. Ferrarini, who forced the tie breaker with a 6-2 win in the second set was leading 6-5 when rain forced the match to be halted with New Haven having already secured the win.
Agustina Ravera (Miramar, Fla./Broward Virtual School) picked up the first singles victory of the afternoon when she swept her opponent Maddie Hamm by scores of 6-0, 6-0. Carreras and Alyssa Rodriguez (Tampa, Fla./HB Plant) picked up wins and second and fourth singles, respectively with Carreras winning 6-3, 6-1 and Rodriguez taking a 6-2, 6-4 decision.
Lucia Placidi (Melbourne, Australia/Distance Education Centre Victoria) earned a straight-set victory at fifth singles with a 6-2 decision in the opener and then earned the victory with a 10-2 tiebreaker victory in the second set. Rounding out the completed singles action was Risako Umekuni (Saitama, Japan/Shumei Eiko) who finished just prior the inclement weather settling in. The junior dropped the opening set 7-5 before forcing a third set tie breaker with a 6-1 decision in the second set. She then earned a 10-5 victory in the tie breaker to win the point.
Due to the expectation of inclement weather for the upcoming weekend, the Chargers next scheduled match against Nichols College originally scheduled for Sunday afternoon has been canceled. The next time the Chargers take the court will come on Thursday, March 28 when they welcome Chestnut Hill to West Haven. First serve in the Spring action will come at 12:00 p.m.
