San Diego, CA—
Principia faced off against Division I Bowling Green through at arrangement with Collegiate Sport Travel company and Jason Pritchett. The tough matches on this spring break trip are preparing the team for conference play which begins when we return from our vacation. The players are improving and getting grittier. Today they faced off against a tough NCAA Division I team.
Paige Cooley played an exciting match against the opposing #1. Paige won the first set 6-2 by hitting big forehands and scrambling to touch every ball. This extended effort kept Paige in the points until she could turn her defensive play into offense. In the second set Paige got down 5-2 and had opportunity to even the 2
nd set at 5-5, but she missed the forehand return on the sudden death deuce point and the set ended abruptly and stopped her comeback. In the tiebreaker a few ill timed errors from Paige and some crushing backhand winners from her opponent set up at 10-3 win for the Falcon.
The Falcons of bowling green swept all three doubles with aggressive ground strokes and solid volleys. They took commanding a lead in all the singles matches. Only Paige held her own and playing great strategic tennis.
The tennis match was also an alumni event for the San Diego area. About 20 alumni, family and friends came out to have lunch and support the team. Sue Sprague parent of three Principia College alumni and a national level tennis player appreciated the great tennis and the support for the Principia Players. She thought it was a festive occasion for all with pompoms, Circle P stickers, Principia balls and rally towels. The kids present loved playing with pompoms and balls. Sue said "it was great to see how Principia's senior and mechanical engineering student,
Paige Cooley, was able to develop a game strategy that pushed her Division I opponent to a tie breaker decision for the match." Complete match scores are below.
Next on our spring break schedule is Whittier College on Thursday at 10:30 AM. The Whittier Poets hope to write a winning sonnet. Come out and see who will prevail.
Bowling Green vs Principia
Bowling Green 9-0
D1: Paula Comella / Marharita-Sophia Tavpash def.
Paige Cooley /
Gabby Kitchingman 8-0
D2: Polina Radeva / Laura Maia Silveira def.
Greer Sprague /
Hallie Jones 8-0
D3: Ayumi Sasaki / Marta Bettinelli def.
Dani Lomascolo /
Sarah Switzer 8-0
S1: Polina Radeva def.
Paige Cooley 2-6,6-4, (10-3)
S2: Paula Comella def.
Gabby Kitchingman 6-0, 6-0
S3: Marharita-Sophia Tavpash def.
Greer Sprague 6-0, 6-0
S4: Ayumi Sasaki def.
Hallie Jones 6-0, 6-0
S5: Marta Bettinelli def.
Dani Lomascolo 6-0, 6-0
S6: Laura Maia Silveira def.
Sarah Switzer 6-0, 6-0
