FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The No. 20 Skidmore College women's tennis team picked up a big victory against a ranked opponent, picking up the 6-3 win against No. 15 Johns Hopkins, in the second match of the Blue-Grey Invitational on the campus of the University of Mary Washington Saturday morning.
 
Skidmore (7-2) has won the first two matches of the Blue-Grey Invitational after a 9-0 victory against Swarthmore Friday afternoon. They will face host No. 16 Mary Washington on Sunday at 9 a.m. Johns Hopkins falls to 0-6 on the season, with all its losses to ranked or Division I opponents.
 
"I'm super proud of the team's effort today," said head coach Curt Speerschneider. "They came into the match with a lot of focus and were able to maintain that focus throughout the match.  They trusted themselves and they trusted each other, which is how you win a college tennis match."
 
The Thoroughbreds took a crucial 3-0 lead after picking up the sweep in doubles. Ada Wiggins and Risa Fukushige won their second straight match as a doubles pair, defeating Anjie Kashyap and Sophia Strickland 8-6 at No. 1. Renee Karchere-Sun and Michelle Fuca also won its second straight match with an 8-4 win against Kimberly Zou/Dhanya Asokumar at No. 2. Alexa Goldberg and Jessica Ampel finished the sweep with an 8-6 win at No. 3 against Katie Gauch and Margo Gerke.
 
Skidmore and Johns Hopkins would split the six singles matches, with Skidmore getting crucial victories for the team win. Fukushige won her fifth match in the last six tries, defeating Strickland in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2. Karchere-Sun picked up a grueling three-set victory with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 3 against Zou. Fuca was dominant at No. 4, defeating Asokumar 6-1, 6-2.
 
 
Tennis Match Results
Skidmore College vs Johns Hopkins
Mar 17, 2018 at Fredericksburg, Va.
(UMW Tennis Courts)
 
 #21 Skidmore College 6, #15 Johns Hopkins 3
 
Singles competition
1. Anjie Kashyap (JHU) def. Ada Wiggins (SKID) 6-4, 6-3
2. Risa Fukushige (SKID) def. Sophia Strickland (JHU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Renee Karchere-Sun (SKID) def. Kimberly Zou (JHU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Michelle Fuca (SKID) def. Dhanya Asokumar (JHU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Katie Gauch (JHU) def. Laura Swenson (SKID) 6-7 (9-11), 6-2, 10-7
6. Chrissy Simon (JHU) def. Jackie Ahn (SKID) 6-4, 6-1
 
 Doubles competition
1. Risa Fukushige/Ada Wiggins (SKID) def. Anjie Kashyap/Sophia Strickland (JHU) 8-6
2. Renee Karchere-Sun/Michelle Fuca (SKID) def. Kimberly Zou/Dhanya Asokumar (JHU) 8-4
3. Alexa Goldberg/Jessica Ampel (SKID) def. Katie Gauch/Margo Gerke (JHU) 8-6
 
Match Notes:
Skidmore College 7-2; National ranking #21; Regional ranking #8
Johns Hopkins 0-6; National ranking #15; Regional ranking #4