Friar Tennis Finishes Strong

There are few aspects of sports that are as glorified as much as the comeback. Escaping the depths of loss and failure, a comeback is the crowning achievement of any sport. This season the Providence College Women's Tennis Team has certainly shown the ability to come back from defeat. After enduring a seven-match losing streak, the Friars rescued their season, winning their final three matches to finish the season with a record of 8-9.

On Tuesday, April 15, The Lady Friars capped off their season on a sweet note by beating Holy Cross 4-3 in their only home match of the season before an enthusiastic crowd of about 200 Friar Faithful.

"They [the Friars] were ready for a [Holy Cross] team that we have a strong rivalry with," said Head Women's Tennis Coach Wayne Turner. "We were up for it and we went out and competed."

As it was Senior Day, the Friars honored three seniors-Kate Danaher, Erin Kenaga, and Kate Lyons-for their four years of dedication to the tennis program at PC.

Doubles play proved to be a critical factor in the match, as all three of the Friar duos soundly defeated their Holy Cross opponents.

"The doubles were phenomenal," noted Turner in commending the fruits of a long season of practice and hard work. "They dominated their opponents all day."

Freshman Avery Gibson and sophomore Dara Hawkins-Hodgson teamed up to win a close set 8-6. Both Gibson and Hawkins-Hodgson were defeated in their first and third singles, respectively in very competitive sets.

The doubles team of junior Meghan Gilroy and sophomore Jenn Cusack cruised to an 8-0 victory in No. 2 doubles, and the freshman tandem of Ayushi Sinha and Kim Betzner followed up with a victory to ensure the doubles point.

In No. 2 singles, junior Ashley Rissolo was leading her set, but rolled her ankle and was forced to forfeit. The injury was not assessed as serious.

The hope of victory, then, lay in the hands of the back end of the singles corps, and the Lady Friars responded in impressive fashion. Certainly, this was nothing new for a Friar squad that was accustomed to occupying the underdog's position.

"A lot of the time we'll end up winning the 4, 5, or 6 spots if we can't get 1 and 2," said senior Kate Lyons.

Indeed, Cusack and Sinha each had relatively easy wins at No. 4 and No. 5 and Lyons grabbed the win at No. 6 singles in a hard-fought set.

"It started out tough for Katy, but I though she made the right adjustments for the wind, and she cruised after that," said Turner.

Pleased with her victory and her team's solid play, Lyons was happy with the momentum the Friars had acquired towards the end of the season.

"We've had to play some really tough teams, some scholarship schools, but we've shown that we're a deep team" said Lyons. "We can play with anybody,"

This never-say-die attitude also shone clearly on Saturday, April 12, when the Friars travelled to Queens, NY, to take on Manhattan College. PC played well and capitalized on the Jaspers forfeiting two No. 6 singles and No. 2 doubles due to illness en route to the 4-1 win.

Rissolo, Hawkins-Hodgson, Cusack, and Sinha picked up easy wins in singles, winning each with straight sets. Sinha and Gilroy teamed for a win in No. 2 doubles as well.

The Friars enter this offseason pleased with their marked improvement over the course of the season, and optimistic about next season, given that there will be at least five home matches next season for Friar fans to show their support of one of Providence's most diligent squads. Additionally, with at least one incoming freshman recruit committed to playing next season, the Friars will look to extend the three-match win streak that concluded their 2008 campaign.