Tennis Comes Up Short to Bates, 5-4

March 02, 2024

Box Score NORTHAMPTON - The Smith college tennis team lead after doubles but ultimately fell to Bates College, 5-4, in non-conference action on Friday evening. The Pioneers drop to 4-1 in dual matches this season.

Doubles Highlights:

The first point of the day for Smith came in the number three doubles position from the duo of Miranda Gibson (Bethlehem, PA/Moravian Academy) and Sabrina Wang (Beijing, China/Princeton) who are now 4-1 as a doubles team. The pair played dominant doubles, jumping out to an early lead and cruising to an 8-4 win.

Ayla Hauser (Knoxville, TN/Bearden) and Marielle Sauber (The Woodlands, TX/The John Cooper School) returned to the number one position against Iris Westmoreland and Lizzie Frekko. Hauser and Sauber got off to a strong start, playing aggressive doubles to push their opponents back. The Smith pair got their lead early, and was able to secure the 8-6 win giving Smith their second point of the day and securing the team lead going into singles play.

In the number two doubles position, Aranne Jung (Los Angeles, CA/North Hollywood) and Clara Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) battled, looking for a doubles sweep. The pair of Bella Saul and Julia Anderson from Bates got off to a strong start, jumping out to a 7-2 lead. Jung and Goshgarian recommitted to their gameplan and won four straight games to go 7-6. With Smith on the verge of forcing a tie-break, the Bates team came up with a strong service game to secure the set 8-6, and get Bates on the board.

Singles Highlights

Bates earned the first point of singles play to even up the match. Aranne Jung (Los Angeles, CA/North Hollywood) of Smith took on Bella Saul of Bates in the number three position. Jung battled against the consistent player from Bates who applied pressure early. Jung continued to look for solutions, but came up short in the 6-3, 6-0 decision.

Sabrina Wang (Beijing, China/Princeton) showed her ability to adapt in the number four position. After dropping her first set 6-1, Wang adjusted her game plan and started to rack up points against Lizzie Frekko from Bates. It was a great match up, of Wang dictating while Frekko tracked every ball down. In the end, Frekko was able to hold onto her lead, giving her the 6-1, 6-4 lead and putting Bates ahead on the scoreboard for the first time during the match, 3-2.

First year, Ayla Hauser (Knoxville, TN/Bearden), coming off of her first win against a nationally ranked player in her match against Ithaca, was ready for a battle in the number one position against Julia Anderson of Bates. Hauser played some incredible defense to neutralize the strong forehand and serve of Anderson. Hauser claimed the first set 7-5. At the start of the first set, Hauser showed her more aggressive side, dictating play and jumping out to an early lead. At 4-3 for Hauser, Anderson upped her level winning two straight games to 5-4. Even though she was behind, Hauser was feeling confident. She won three straight games, securing her match 7-5, 7-5 and levelling the overall match score to 3-3

Junior, Clara Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) played an incredible match in the number two position. Goshgarian won a close first set playing aggressive tennis and by keeping her opponent off balance. In the second set, Goshgarian's opponent, Iris Westmoreland, adjusted her play a bit, shaking Goshgarian for a moment, allowing the player from Bates to take the second set 6-3. In the third set, Goshgarian recommitted to her plan, and cruised to a 6-2 win giving Smith their fourth point of the day and putting the team back in the lead 4-3.

Bates was able to quickly even up the score in the number six position. Sophomore, Dayana Caluna (Plainfield, NJ/College Achieve) was unable to break into the match against Ava Steinberger of Bates. Bates claimed the match 6-1, 6-0.

The match was clinched in the number 5 position. Miranda Gibson (Bethlehem, PA/Moravian Academy) of Smith got out to an incredible start against Ava Lyons. Gibson showed great energy and point building to give herself the lead. At 4-3 up, Lyons was able to disrupt play and win the next three games securing the set. At that point, Lyons took hold of the energy and got up to a 5-2 lead in the second set. Gibson was able to battle and secure one more game before dropping the match 6-4, 6-3.

Up Next
Smith hosts Trinity on Wednesday, March 6 at 4:00pm.

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, and Instagram.

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