MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- The Smith College tennis team sent juniors Lili Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) and Clara Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) and first-year Ayla Hauser (Knoxville, TN/Bearden) to the ITA Championship on Friday, hosted by Wesleyan University.

Singles Highlights:
Ayla Hauser (Knoxville, TN/Bearden) def. Melinda Alviar of Wellesley 6-2, 6-4

• Hauser came out strong in her first ever collegiate match. In the first set she played dominant tennis, not giving her opponent much of a chance and taking the set 6-2. In the second set, Alviar of Wellesley started to create more opportunities to come to the net and dictate play. Hauser made some adjustments and at 5-4, she upped her game to close out the set and the match to earn her first collegiate win. 

Ayla Hauser (Knoxville, TN/Bearden) lost to Yu Ishikawa of Williams 6-3, 6-4 

• Hauser battled in her match against Ishikawa of Williams. After dropping the first set, Ishikawa came out strong, going up 4-1, Hauser battled back to make the set 5-4 before Ishikawa was able to close out the match. 

Lili Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) lost to Erika Ekstrand of Williams 6-2, 6-2

• L. Goshgarian drew a tough first round match playing the 2021 NCAA Singles champion Erika Ekstrand. Goshgarian was determined to mix up play to disrupt her opponent. Ekstrand proved to be too strong, taking the match 6-2, 6-2. 

Doubles Highlights: 
Lili Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest)/Clara Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) def. Chaniel Soffer/Elena Keitt (Babson) 8-7(9)

• Lili Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) bounced back after her first round singles loss to play doubles with her sister, Clara Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest). The pair came out strong, and played free doubles against the tough pair of Chaniel Soffer and Elena Keitt of Babson. L. Goshgarian and C. Goshgarian were down 6-7 and won the game to force a set tie-break. In the tie-break, the Goshgarians were trailing but continued to play confident, fearless doubles. The pair saved three match points in their tie-break. When they finally took the lead at 10-9, the pair closed out the match and secured their first round win.

Lili Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest)/Clara Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) lost to Parwani/Suarez (Brandeis) 8-4

• In their second round doubles match, L. and C. Goshgarian took on the No. 12 team in the region from the 2022-2023 season, Parwani and Suarez of Brandeis. L. and C. Goshgarian continued to play free doubles. They made adjustments early to combat the aggressive net play of Parwani and Suarez. After a tough match, Parwani and Suarez secured the 8-4 victory. 

Up Next
The Pioneers will host the New England Women's Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament (NEWITT) on Friday, October 6 through Saturday, October 8. 

About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log on to smithpioneers.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.