Women's Tennis Played Well and NEWITT

Author: Emily Berlanstein

In the course of one week, the Panther women's tennis team transformed itself from defeated to deadly. Motivated by a disappointing loss to Williams, Middlebury routed the University of Vermont (UVM) 7-2 before traveling to Maine and handily beating both Colby (6-3) and Bates (9-0). This was the last weekend of regular season play for the Panthers, who will compete at New England Women's Invitational Tennis Tournament (NEWITT) this weekend.
Against Division I in-state rival UVM, Ariella Neville '03 (6-1, 6-1), Jeannie McIntosh '05 (6-2, 6-2), Libby Meyers '04 (6-1, 6-0) and Jena Siegel '04 (6-1, 6-3) were all singles winners. The dynamic duo of Meyers/Siegel was victorious in the top doubles match (8-1), and the teams of NinaPopel '05/Neville (8-4) and McIntosh/Lauren Ready '05 (8-3) were unstoppable as well.
Commented Meyers on the win, "The mindset was really positive after UVM. We went into that match knowing we had nothing to lose, and came out with the desire — not just to win the matches in Maine — but to win every court."
Between the Vermont match and the long trip to Maine, the Panthers fueled their appetite for aggression with set play in practice. By Saturday they were prepared for attack. Meyers remarked, "Since next weekend is the NEWITT, this was our last weekend of team play. We really wanted to end on a high note, especially since we drove so far."
The Colby match was certainly competitive, but behind straight-set singles victors Kristin Baker '04 (6-3, 6-2), Popel (6-3, 6-3), McIntosh (6-1, 7-5) and Meyers (6-2, 7-6(1)), Middlebury earned a 6-3 win. Popel/Neville (8-4) and Baker/McIntosh (8-3) were also doubles winners. Since Colby defeated Bates earlier in the season, the squad successfully abandoned its fatigue and allowed the adrenaline to carry it into Sunday's matches.
The Panthers proceeded to execute a clean sweep of Bates, winning every match. In singles, Neville (7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4), Ready (2-6, 6-3, 6-4), Baker (6-4, 6-2), Popel (6-0, 7-5), McIntosh (6-2, 6-1) and Meyers (6-0, 6-1) were victors. In doubles play, the teams of Meyers/Siegel (8-4), Popel/Neville (8-6), and McIntosh/Baker (8-3) picked up wins.
The scores fail to reflect the intensity of the match and the quality of this Panther victory. Earlier this season, Bates beat Wellesley College, to whom Middlebury lost last spring. It was also highly competitive with Bowdoin, one of the top New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) teams this season. As Meyers enthusiastically noted, "We really took our games to the next level and pulled out all the stops."
It is evident that the Panthers have changed their attitude, their strategy and their result in only a week's time. This experienced squad is finally comfortable with its individual games and adept at applying their individual strengths to the court.
In preparation for the NEWITT, to be hosted by Amherst College, the team will likely prepare as it did for Maine, both mentally and physically. Its hope is that this positive momentum will continue to carry it to victory.