NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - The Smith College tennis team took to the courts in their opening season match on Thursday against Nichols. The Pioneers kept the spectators on the edge of their seats, winning the overall match 5-4. 

BOX SCORE

In doubles play, the No. 1 team of Noa Dubin (Southampton, N.Y./Southampton) and Sam Peikes (West Hartford, Conn./Watkinson School) showed signs of crafty, savvy doubles play as they took the lead 6-2 in the eight game pro set only to lose the lead to an 8-8 tie. Once they caught the spectators attention, the duo were then able to regain their momentum to win the tiebreak 7-0 and the overall match 9-8.  Number 2 doubles of Margaret Anne Smith (Spring Lake, N.J./High Technology) and Janan Fugel (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Saddle River Day School) and the No. 3 team Alexandra Steck (Albany, N.Y./Emma Willard) and Kelli Cheung (Plainfield, N.J./Academy for Information Technology) were unable to win their matches, leaving Smith down 1-2 following doubles play.  

In singles, Dubin at No. 1 and Peikes at No. 2 stepped confidently into the singles arena with decisive play, defeating each of their opponents 6-1, 6-1. Joanna Kim (Chicago, Ill./Northside College Prep) at the No. 3 slot played a confident and mentally controlled match with momentum shifting frequently. Ultimately, Lindsay Kaplan of Nichols was able to link four additional points for a 10-6 third set tiebreak victory. Margaret Anne Smith (Spring Lake, N.J./High Technology) at No. 4 analyzed her opponent, Rachel McDonald, quickly defrocking her of any of her weapons and won 6-1, 6-3 while bringing in the winning point in the overall match for Smith. No. 5 Kelli Cheung (Plainfield, N.J./Academy for Information Technology) fought to a third set but succumbed after winning the first set 6-3.  Newcomer to the Smith lineup but known in the Pioneer Valley, Toula Sierros (Northampton, Mass./Williston Northampton) made her debut appearance in the starting line-up at No. 6 singles. Sierros played with confidence and shot variety and gained momentum throughout the match, coming out victorious 7-5, 6-1.  

Exhibition doubles players and newcomers Evie Hoffman (Pittsboro, N.C./Nothwood) and Emma Essenmacher (Delran, N.J./Delran) made their debut on the team at fourth doubles. Leigh Johnston (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Punahou School) and Kara Van Allen (Kalamazoo, Mich./Mattawan) paired up for the first time and brought in an 8-1 win at No. 5 doubles. In exhibition singles, senior Christine Yee (South San Francisco, Calif./South San Francisco) lost in a battle 3-6, 2-6, while Tess Ostoyich (Bethesda, Md./Whitman) and Alexandra Steck (Albany, N.Y./Emma Willard) brought in single exhibition wins.

The Pioneers travel to Wellesley on Saturday, September 3 for the first conference match of the season.