Women’s tennis suffers two defeats
While the Oakland women’s tennis team has had a less than victorious season so far, the team continues to play with fervor after two home losses at Bloomfield Tennis and Fitness.
After suffering a 7-0 loss against Eastern Michigan the previous weekend, the team prepared to host two non-league home games to pick up their record against Wayne State, who held a 7-2 record, and Niagara University, who entered the game with a record of 4-12.
Saturday afternoon held a disappointing finale as the Grizzlies fell 7-0 to Wayne State. Sophomores Karen Karoub and Caitlin Young battled through a No. 1 doubles match but dropped the set 8-5. Junior Amanda Pettey and sophomore Caryn Shermetaro also lost their match after a hard-battled 8-4 decision.
Singles matches were also unable to take a set, with No. 2 finishing 6-2 and No. 3 ending in a 6-3 defeat.
The women Grizzlies hoped to make a comeback at their match against Niagara University Monday afternoon, but were delivered a similar outcome. OU endured a 4-3 loss, taking their three points in singles.
Karoub battled through her singles match and was awarded a victory after sets of 7-5 and 6-1; Jackie Dinicu and Gabrielle Gogas also brought home wins in their matches, 7-6, 7-5 and 6-4, 6-2, respectively. Dinicu and Gogas also claimed a No. 2 doubles match, finishing 8-5.
Regardless of the loss, the three points in the Niagara match produced the closest score for the 2010 season for the women’s team. OU finished with a 5-2 score against Bradley University on March 6, which had been their closest decision until the Monday game.
The team was predicted to finish seventh in a pre-season poll released early in January. Young, Dinicu, Gogas, Karoub and Shermentaro are the only five players returning from the fall tennis season; freshman Alexandra Reed and Pettey joined the team for the current season.
The Grizzlies continue through the spring season with an 0-7 record. The team will head to Fort Wayne, Ind. for leagues, beginning April 1 against Oral Roberts. The women will have one final home game against Valparaiso on April 10 at 2 p.m.
