SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In a gritty road performance, the Smith College tennis team took down #29 Skidmore College. Highlighted by a landmark upset at the top of the doubles lineup and clinical execution in singles. 

Doubles: Setting the Tone

The Bears wasted no time establishing dominance on the Thoroughbreds' home courts. At the No. 1 position, the first-year duo of Ava Emrich (Smyrna, Delaware/Tower Hill School) and Heidi Cambron (Sherbrooke, Canada/Champlain College Lennoxville) put the country on notice. Facing the #15 nationally ranked doubles team of Ginevra Muratori and Amelie Gonzalez, Emrich and Cambron played fearless, decisive tennis to secure a 6-3 victory.

Smith locked up the crucial doubles point at the No. 2 spot, where Ayla Hauser (Knoxville, TN/Bearden) and Natazya Simunyola (Lorton, VA/South County High School) remained perfect on the spring season. The pair battled to a 6-4 win over Ellie Lake and Maggie English, giving the Bears a 1-0 lead heading into singles play.

Singles: Bears Close the Door

Smith's depth and conditioning were on full display as they dismantled the Skidmore lineup:

• The Enforcer: Emily Wang (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) was a force at No. 4, surrendering only one game in a 6-1, 6-0 masterclass against Ruth Wilson to push the lead to 2-0.

• The Comeback: At No. 3, Heidi Cambron (Sherbrooke, Canada/Champlain College Lennoxville) showed incredible composure. After trailing 5-2 in the first set, she stormed back to win five consecutive games. She carried that momentum through the second to take the match 7-5, 6-3.

• The Clincher: Olivia Chin (Bayside, NY/Dominican Academy) officially sealed the upset for the Bears at the No. 5 position. Chin's combination of control and power overwhelmed her opponent in a 6-3, 6-0 win, securing the fourth and deciding point for Smith.

• Battling the Best: At No. 1, Ayla Hauser (Knoxville, TN/Bearden) went toe-to-toe with #12 ranked Ginevra Muratori in a 7-5 opening set battle. At No. 2, Ava Emrich (Smyrna, Delaware/Tower Hill School) showcased tactical brilliance in a three-set marathon against Amelie Gonzalez, narrowly falling 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

Tabitha Bastress (Shelburne, VT/Champlain Valley Union High School) added the final point for the Bears at the No. 6 position via default.

Up Next

The Bears will travel to Williamstown, MA to take on the WIlliams College Ephs. First serve is at 10:00am next Saturday, February 28th. 

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 onto GoSmithBears.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram