Tennis team plays through tough schedule, looks forward

   Having won two out of its last three matches in a recent stretch and riding a wave of momentum, the University at Albany women’s tennis team will look to win in Worcester, Mass., where they will take on the Patriot League’s Holy Cross Crusaders on Saturday.

   The Great Danes followed up being swept at the hands of Syracuse to start the spring season by handily defeating St. Bonaventure 5-2. Then, after a narrow 4-3 loss against Long Island University, UAlbany dominated Skidmore College by a margin of 6-1 before being swept by Fordham.

   Coach Elissa Kinard attributes the recent success to an infusion of high-level competition to their non-conference schedule.

   “In years past, we’ve started out hot but weren’t ready for conference play,” she said. “This year, we tried to put together a tougher schedule and the team has improved so much.”

   The Danes come into the match versus Holy Cross hoping the great play of senior Caitlin Crowley and junior Susan Ma can continue to pay dividends for them. Crowley and Ma are a combined 4-0 in singles play in the team’s last two matches, while also picking up a doubles victory each versus Skidmore. They both have emerged as leaders on the squad.

   “They’re different types of motivators,” coach Kinard said. “But they’re both going to give everything they’ve got.”

   Along with Ma and Crowley’s torrid play as of late, the team has received steady contributions from juniors Laine Mackey, Livia Gherman and sophomore Aubrey Brooks, who are all 2-2 in singles matches outside of tournament play.

   What appears to be the Achilles’ heel for this year’s team is its doubles play. They have been swept in doubles twice in their first four matches and, to this point in the season, the Great Danes only boast two players with more than one win in doubles competition. Crowley posted one with Gherman and one with freshman Sarah Iannone, while Mackey has earned her victories with Ma and Brooks.

   The Danes will be taking on a Holy Cross team that has struggled mightily this season.  They currently stand at 2-4, with their only wins coming against the America East’s own Hartford Hawks and Division II Merrimack College.

   Their top singles player, Kristen Meahl, is 1-5 in the first position for them thus far, as part of a group whose best record in singles play is shared by Emily Marr and Kathryn Wilkie at 3-3. In doubles play, the tandem of Emma Rudnik and Wilkie are undefeated outside of tournament play, posting a 2-0 record during the young season.

   A natural obstacle will be coping with a lack of home-court advantage. The Danes are 1-2 away from the Bubble so far. Kinard, last year’s America East Coach of the Year, acknowledges the challenges of playing away from home.

   “It takes a set [of play] to get used to,” she said.

   However, a good team has to win on the road, but against an opponent who is struggling merely keeping focus is a challenge all by itself for most teams. UAlbany knows it can’t take any opponent lightly at this stage, a matter that Kinard thinks will be instrumental to their success in this match.

   “Just not losing our motivation is the key. I don’t really think focus will be an issue,” Kinard said. “We’re getting into the heat of the season, and the girls are doing a good job of staying focused.”