The Women’s Tennis team’s season starts off with a bang

The Stevens Women’s Tennis team got their season underway in a wonderful fashion. In their annual Stevens Invitational in West Windsor Township, the women’s team faced off against Wilkes University, Ithaca College, and Bryn Mawr College.

Six different individuals grabbed their first victories of the season on Saturday. Sophomore Agatha Malinowski got the Stevens team its first win as she defeated a Wilkes player in straight sets. Another sophomore, Alexis Fuda, got the team’s second victory of the year in a 7-6, 6-2 match against another Wilkes player.

Two freshmen, Audrey Heaberlin and Juliette Marchisio, secured their first collegiate wins. Heaberlin had a thrilling three-set win against an Ithaca player (6-1, 4-6, 10-6). Similarly, Marchisio impressed in her debut as she had two come-from-behind victories over her Ithaca opponents. She won her debut match 3-6, 6-0, 10-8, and picked up her second win, 5-7, 6-1, 10-1. Marchisio commented on her wins saying, “I was definitely nervous heading into my first college matches, but I dug deep and never gave up. It is all about staying positive and chasing down every ball.”

Three seniors also grabbed singles victories. Isabella Calandra posted a straight-set win against an Ithaca player, 6-2, 6-3, to earn her first victory of the season. Also, seniors Nicole Badalyan and Joilin Gomez defeated their respective Ithaca opponents to end day one of the Fall Kickoff Tournament.

In day two, on Sunday, Stevens took on Wilkes University in the first round of Sunday’s doubles competition. Senior Nicole Badalyan partnered with junior Makenna Sargis to pick up the first doubles victory of the year, winning 8-5, and were the only duo to achieve a win against Wilkes.

Against Bryn Mawr, the Ducks were ready. Sweeping three matches to close out the tournament on a positive note, the Ducks did not want to lose. First, Malinowski partnered with Heaberlin to post an 8-7 win. Secondly, Calandra and Fuda kept the momentum rolling with an 8-5 win. Finally, Badalyan and Sargis secured their second doubles win of the day, 8-5, to close out the tournament.

In all, it was a wonderful opening weekend for the Women’s Tennis team. Juliette Marchisio also commented on her team’s play this weekend: “Despite only having a week to practice due to the delay in resurfacing the Stevens courts, everyone played well. It was a great start to the season as the team moves on to bigger challenges and tournaments.”