WEBSTER GROVES, MO – The Principia Women's Tennis team opened their 2023-24 season on Saturday with their first of two fall matches before the annual ITA Tournament. The Panthers faced Anderson University at the Webster Groves Tennis Center and fought hard despite only having four women able to play. In the end, Principia won four of the six matches they played, but lost 5-4 overall due to having to forfeit three matches.
Saray Hernandez Cisneros and
Veronica Volkart teamed up for an 8-5 win at #1 doubles and then each cruised to easy singles victories at #1 and #2. After Volkart won her first singles set using strong down the line backhands, she fell behind 3-0 in the second set. She then turned things back around and made a strong comeback by winning six straight games.
After
Kimbeley Peterson and
Ruth Hummell dropped a close match at #2 doubles, Hummell was able to win a tough battle at #4 singles. After taking the first set handedly with steady play, her opponent changed her strategy in the second set to hit more short balls. Hummell matched the strategy and used lobs over her opponent to win the second set 7-5.
With the overall score tied at 4-4, the winning point came down to Peterson's match at #3 singles. After losing the first set, Peterson stormed back in the second with strong, deep, topspin shots followed by short slices. The match then hung in the balance with a 10-point third set tiebreaker as the decider. Peterson went up early, but she ultimately fell 10-7 thanks to the steady play by her opponent and several of Peterson's shots finding the net.
These fall matches help the team determine what they want to work on for spring. The Panthers will take the grit that they established in this match into the next one as they will keep working on balls in play and expecting every ball back.
Up Next: Principia will host Illinois College on Tuesday at 5:00 pm for their final tune-up match before the ITA Tournament.
Hear comments from Coach Carney after the match:
