The Slippery Rock University tennis team (1-3) had an up and down week, defeating Alderson-Broaddus University (0-4) 9-0 on Friday before dropping a 7-0 decision to St. Bonaventure University (3-6) on Saturday.
The Rock picked up their first win of the season against Alderson-Broaddus, while only dropping a total of four games in the nine matches. Freshmen Carla Corrochano Moracho and Nina Barbano recorded 6-0 victories at number one and two singles respectively, and they also teamed up for a shutout in number one doubles, 8-0.
Sophomores Stephanie Fortier and Emily Munson also recorded shutouts at number four and six singles respectively, while freshman Ana Petrovic, at number three singles, and junior Courtney Gallagher, at number five singles, recorded straight set victories.
On the doubles side, the number two doubles team of Fortier and Petrovic won 8-1, while freshman Anna Carpenter teamed with Gallagher for an 8-0 victory in number three doubles.
“It was good to get the win,” head coach Matt Meredith said.
On Saturday, SRU travelled to New York and fell to St. Bonaventure, dropping their record to 1-3 on the season. The best showing of the day was by the doubles team of Corrochano Moracho and Barbano, who lost an 8-4 decision.
Despite the loss, Meredith knows that it is good for his team to play schools such as St. Bonaventure.
Meredith said the young players on the squad can learn a lot from playing better competition.
“We would rather play the better teams,” Meredith said. “It’s still early and we are building toward the future and the winning tradition that SRU has had.”
Barbano won five games, dropping a 6-2, 6-3 decision, while Emily Munson lost her first set 6-3, before falling 6-0 in the second set.
The Rock will travel to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina over spring break. They will play the University of South Carolina-Upstate and Kutztown University on Sunday. Then later in the week, they will play Milligan College, Rhodes College, Millersville University and Catholic University.
Coach Meredith is looking forward to the trip. He said that getting down to South Carolina and getting some nice weather and some good courts to play on will be a welcome change for the team.
“We are looking to compete and become more consistent on the court,” Meredith said. “This trip will be a good test for us and get us ready for PSAC-West play.”
SRU begins play in the PSAC-West on Tuesday, March 24 against Mercyhurst University at home.
