Hartford, CT – The Smith College tennis team put up a determined fight against a strong Trinity College squad on Thursday evening, but ultimately fell 6-1 in a competitive matchup. Despite the scoreline, the Pioneers showed resilience in doubles and had several close battles in singles play.

Doubles Recap: Bright Spot for the Pioneers

• Smith found early success in doubles, securing a victory at the No. 1 spot behind a commanding performance from Lili and Clara Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest), who claimed a 6-2 win with well-placed serves and aggressive net play.
• Marielle Sauber (The Woodlands, TX/The John Cooper School) and Natazya Simunyola (Lorton, VA/South County High School) followed up with a dominant 6-1 victory at No. 2 doubles, demonstrating strong teamwork and consistency.
• However, Trinity managed to take the doubles point with a 6-2 win at No. 3 doubles, where Tabitha Bastress (Charlotte, VT/Champlain Valley Union High School) and Sophia Dube (Portland, OR/Oregon Episcopal School) fought hard but came up short.

Singles: Hard-Fought Battles

• Moving into singles action, the Pioneers faced stiff competition from Trinity's deep lineup.
• Simunyola delivered the standout performance of the day, battling through a three-set marathon at No. 1 singles before narrowly falling 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 in a high-energy match that featured long rallies and precise shot-making.
• At No. 2 singles, Clara Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) faced a tough opponent and fell 6-1, 6-2, while Marielle Sauber (The Woodlands, TX/The John Cooper School) and Lili Goshgarian (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) also put up strong fights but couldn't overcome Trinity's powerful play.
• Despite the final result, Smith showed promising moments throughout the match, and the Pioneers will look to bounce back as they prepare for their next challenge when they travel to Maine.

Looking Ahead

Smith will return to the court for their next matchup on March 14th as they travel to play at Bates, aiming to capitalize on the strengths shown in doubles and turn close singles contests into victories.

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.