Northampton, MA - The Smith College tennis team put on a commanding performance against Nichols College yesterday afternoon at the Smith Indoor Tennis Facility, securing an impressive 6-1 victory. The Pioneers controlled both singles and doubles play, showcasing their depth and resilience as they opened their season on a high. 

Doubles Play Sets the Tone

Smith jumped out to an early lead, sweeping all three doubles matches to take a 3-0 advantage heading into singles action. The duos of Ayla Hauser (Knoxville, TN/Bearden) and Marielle Sauber (The Woodlands, TX/The John Cooper School), Natazya Simunyola (Lorton, VA/South County High School) (Lorton, VA, South County High School)& Sabrina Wang (Beijing, China/Princeton), and Tabitha Bastress/Sophia Dube (Portland, OR/Oregon Episcopal School) played with strong chemistry, executing well-placed shots and aggressive net play to overpower their opponents.

Singles Success

The momentum carried over into singles play, where the Pioneers captured five of the six matchups. Ayla Hauser (Knoxville, TN/Bearden) delivered a dominant performance at No. 1 singles, winning in straight sets, while Sauber fought through a tight match at No. 3, rallying to win in a third-set tiebreaker. Other key victories came from Simunyola, Lili Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest), and Sabrina Wang (Beijing, China/Princeton), each demonstrating skill and composure under pressure.

Up Next

Smith will host Vassar College in a dual match on February 21st at the Indoor Tennis Facility. 

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.