POMFRET, CT - The Smith College tennis team began the 2024 spring season with a 6-3 win at Nichols College Saturday. The Pioneers improve to 2-0 in dual matches this season. 

Doubles Highlights

• The first point of the day for Smith came in the number three doubles position with the duo of first year, Sabrina Wang (Beijing, China/Princeton) with senior, Miranda Gibson (Bethlehem, PA/Moravian Academy). The pair made their debut at No. 3 after an impressive fall, making it to the final of their draw in the New England Women's Invitational Tennis Tournament (NEWITT). Today, the pair played dominant doubles, using their big serves and aggressive net play to finish points cruising to an 8-0 win. 
• Juniors Clara and Lili Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) earned the second point of the day at the No. 1 slot

• In their first doubles match together, sophomore Marielle Sauber (The Woodlands, TX/The John Cooper School) teamed up with first year Ayla Hauser (Knoxville, TN/Bearden). Both had impressive return games causing a lot of trouble for the Bison. Hauser and Sauber showed their strength from the baseline consistently outlasting their opponents. The Bison narrowly edged out a win, getting Nichols a point going into singles.

Singles Highlights

• The first singles point of the day for Smith came at No.1. Hauser is now 2-0 in dual match play in the number one position for Smith. She played a dominant first set, moving her opponent around and dictating from inside the baseline. In the second set, Carrero steadied up, but still was not enough for Hauser who closed out the match 6-0, 6-5. 
• In the No. 3 position, Clara Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) dropped a tough match to Vogler. In the first set, the players exchanged points, both showing off their strengths. Vogler was able to edge out the first set 6-4. In the second set, Vogler jumped out to a lead, but C. Goshgarian found her rhythm to stay in the match. In the end, Vogler proved to be too tough today, earning her team their second point of the day. 
• The No. 2 position was a tightly contested match. After Lili Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) dropped the first set 6-1 to Schroeder, L. Goshgarian quickly reset playing steady tennis to get her the 4-1 lead. Schroeder battled back, winning 4 straight games to go up 5-4. After an exchange of games, at 6-5 down, L. Goshgarian saved a match point to force a set-tiebreak. In the tie-break, L. Goshgarian continued her steady game giving her the 7-4 win and forcing a third set. In the third set, Schroeder   was able to disrupt play and was able to even out the score making the match 3-3 between Smith and Nichols. 
• First year, Aranne Jung (Los Angeles, CA/North Hollywood), was quick to put Smith back in the lead. Playing a very tough opponent in the No. 4 position, Jung played smart and aggressive tennis keeping her opponent off-balanced and always having to guess what would happen next. Jung stayed composed in a close second set and secured her match with a 6-2, 6-4 lead putting Smith ahead 4-3. 
• The match was clinched by first year, Sabrina Wang (Beijing, China/Princeton), in the No. 5 position. To start the match, Wang and Leonardi were holding serve. Wang quickly adjusted and was able close out the set 6-4. In the second set, Wang played lights out tennis, quickly jumping to a 5-0 lead. Her opponent played a solid service game to make the score 5-1 and keep her in the match. Wang didn't let the hold shake her, and closed out the match with a strong service game of her own winning the match 6-4. 6-1! The final point for Smith came from senior, Miranda Gibson (Bethlehem, PA/Moravian Academy) in the number six position. Gibson used her serve to set her up to quickly end points. On her return games, she played smart and steady tennis, only dropping a game on her way to a 6-1, 6-0 victory.

Up Next
Smith returns to action next weekend with road matches at William Smith on Saturday, February 24 and Ithaca on Sunday, February 25

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.