WALTHAM, Mass. - The nationally 44th ranked Skidmore College women's tennis team opened its weekend action at nationally 28th ranked Brandeis University where the Thoroughbreds battled back to win four singles matches to tie the match but ultimately lost, 5-4. Skidmore drops to 7-4, while the Judges are now 8-6.
- Each of the four losses the Thoroughbreds have endured have been against nationally ranked opponents.
- Brandeis opened a 3-0 lead with victories in each of the doubles matches.
- Skidmore's Ella Provost and Katie Wong had a chance to pull the visitors to within 2-1, but dropped an 8-5 decision at No. 2.
- Provost, a junior, put the Thoroughbreds on the board with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Anastasia Sia at No. 4 singles.
- Sophomore Beilynn Geiss made it 3-2 with a 6-1, 6-1 victory of her own. She defeated Sanjana Kumar at No. 6.
- A Brandeis win at No. 2 put the Judges within one of the match victory as two other matches (Nos. 5 & 3) went to third sets.
- Konika Dhull, a junior playing No. 1, brought Skidmore back to within one, 4-3, with a straight set win, 7-5, 6-3.
- Wong, a freshman, came back to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3 to even the match.
- In the final match, Brandeis junior Sabrina Loui held off senior Katherine Almquist 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 to clinch the victory.
- From head coach Curt Speerschneider: "Goods and bads in this one. Our doubles was a bit unsettled and we let slip a bit. We eased up when we should have been closing out. Of course those loomed huge later on, and ultimately cost us the match. The good was that we never gave up and kept trying to find a way. Even down sets in singles we found ways to even things up. That's what good teams do. Unfortunately we fell just short. A hard knock battle for sure but we'll get stronger from it."
UP NEXT: The Thoroughbreds stay in Massachusetts to face nationally 43rd ranked Wellesley College on Sunday at 10 a.m.
