Smith wins 8-1 in Final Match On Hilton Head Island

Smith College Tennis players had an outstanding match against Nebraska Wesleyan on Friday to conclude their spring break competition. Smith won the match 8-1 but the score was no indication of how tight the match was with the Nebraska team. Smith started with singles and Clair Oblamski dominated 5 singles winning in 45 minutes. Clair was flawless in her execution of strokes and strategy as she took the match 6-0, 6-0. At that point, it looked as though it might be an easy victory for Smith but things heated up as Gianna Teague, Jordan Dubin and Grace McKay-Corkum all went three sets. Each fought through soreness and tiredness from the intense week of competition to win the third sets in match tiebreakers. Jaimi Inskeep (3 singles) and Bayla Weick (4 singles) endured long singles matches. Jaimi finally succumbed to Tara Maloley in a long 4-6, 4-6 battle where Bayla was able to outlast her opponent with a 6-4,6-4 victory. The Pioneers captured the victory when Grace McKay-Corkum pulled out her three set victory at number 6 singles. The Smith team entered doubles with a 5-1 lead and new partner combinations at number 1 and 2 doubles. Jaimi Inskeep and Gianna Teague reunited on the doubles court to dominate Mota and Dickmiller 8-5. Clair Oblamski and Jordan Dubin partnered for the first time defeating Maloley and Hussmann handily. The veteran team of Allie Ryan and Julia Signell came through with the final win giving Smith an 8-1 victory. The Smith College Tennis Team ended their spring competitive tour on a high note and will be returning to campus on Sat. Their next date of competition will be March 31 at Mount Holyoke College versus Connecticut College.

Smith Continues To Compete On Hilton Head Island vs Allegheny and Wisconsin Eau Claire

Smith College Tennis started their Thursday match play on Hilton Head Island versus Allegheny College. Smith started with singles in the first match of a double header. Clair Oblamski and Gianna Teague went down quickly in their respective matches but all others fought for over two hours before the match was decided. Jordan Dubin was the outstanding player of this match and the only singles victor. She kept the spectators on the edge of their seats as she exchanged penetrating ground strokes with her opponent winning the majority of her games with power and punishing angles. 10 point tiebreakers were played for all third sets third sets while on the island and the Smith singles players Jordan Dubin, Jaimi Inskeep and Grace McKay-Corkum all went three sets but it was only Jordan who came up with a win. The team rallied as best they could after singles but with the match decided, it was difficult to get up for the doubles and Smith went down in all doubles. The final match score was 8-1 for Smith.

The temperature was over 80 degrees on Hilton Head Island as the team entered their second match of the day vs Wisconsin Eau Claire. This time, Smith started with doubles. The Wisconsin team prevailed winning all three of the doubles matches. In singles, however, Smith held their ground fighting for each point and never showing any signs of giving up. Once again, two of the Smith players (Jaimie Inskeep and Grace McKay Corkum) found themselves in tiebreakers but neither one could convert a win. Clair Oblamski and Bayla Weick did find the right combination of tactics and strategy to bring in the two wins for the Pioneers. The final match score was 7-2 for the Wisconsin team.

Smith returns to action at 8am to play Nebraska Wesleyan in the final dual match for Smith while on spring break.

Hilton Head Island Competition vs Univ to St. Thomas and The College Of Wooster

Smith College Tennis Team members arrived to Hilton Head Island late Saturday, March 17. The team settled in and practiced on Sunday in preparation for their first double header on the following day. March 19 Smith matched up with University of St Thomas in a long battle resulting in 5-2 win for St Thomas. Smith earned points at the number 1 doubles and number 5 singles positions Gianna Teague and Jordan Dubin paired up to defeat Mary Allen and Rachel Wright 8-2 and Bayla Weick dominated her singles opponent 6-4, 6-1 in a cunning display of cat and mouse. The Pioneers were up a set at number 2 singles (Jordan Dubin) and number 4 singles ( Clair Oblamski) before the match was decided. Although Smith took two matches, the Tommies remain undefeated in spring match play.

The Pioneers went on to compete in an evening match vs The College of Wooster. Smith dominated this match from the beginning winning 8-1. The only loss for the Smith Team came at number three doubles. The Smith Team looked strong against the Ohio team winning the majority of the matches in straight sets. Gianna Teague was the outstanding player in the evening match as she staved off three match points to win 6-7(5), 6-4, (11-9).

Smith Hosted Holy Cross

Smith College hosted Holy Cross on Sunday, March 11. Although the day promised to reach 60 degrees, the temperature was in the 40's at the starting time. The match, in its entirety, was played on the Smith indoor tennis facility. The Smith Tennis Team jumped to an early lead in the doubles as all three of the teams were ahead of the Crusaders in the 8 game prosets. The three doubles teams from Smith exhibited strong doubles tactics and strategies but in the end, Holy Cross pulled back to take the doubles 3-0. In singles, Bayla Weick pulled in the only win but the singles matches were all competitive regardless of the scores. Senior and number 1 singles player, Gianna, used her "directional strategy" effectively wearing her opponent down in the second set. Tri-captain and senior, Robyn Cyr, was last on the courts remaining calm and consistent throughout battling to a 5-7 loss in the second set. Tri-captains Jaimi Inskeep and Clair Oblamski were on the side lines today but look to join the squad this week. The two senior veterans will bring an added dimension to the team as the group prepares for their spring break pilgrimage to Hilton Head Island. The Pioneers will play four matches on the island between March 17-24 before returning for their next "home" match vs Connecticut College on March 31 at MHC.

Smith Meets Bates

Smith College Tennis suffered a 9-0 setback to Bates College on March 3.

Mount Holyoke College graciously extended the use of their indoor courts

to the two teams following the showdown between Bates and Mount

Holyoke. That match resulted in a 9-0 win for Bates as well.

The Pioneers came out of the blocks strong in first doubles.

Senior, Gianna Teague and first year Jordan Dubin ex-

changed punishing ground strokes with the Bates duo in

a competitive 4-8 loss. The number two and three doubles

team did not fare as well bowing to Bates 0-8 in doubles play.

The Pioneers entered singles down 0-3 but they jumped back into

action and were paced by Jordan Dubin. Jordan stood toe to toe

with Meg Anderson at the number 2 position answering every shot

and strategy given to her. In the end, Meg won the match 6-3, 6-2.

Bates won the remaining singles matches in straight sets. From top

to bottom, the Bobcats featured first year Elena Mandzhukova,

senior Meg Anderson, junior Jacquelyn Holmes, seniorErika Blauth,

first year Audrey Grauer and sophomore Lucy Brennan.

Smith plays Holy Cross at home on Sunday, March 11 at 11:30am