Sunday, March 31, 2013

Spring Break and Beyond


Riverside Inn in Intervale, NH
Smith returned all smiles from their Newbury College mixed doubles experience in Boston on Saturday, March 16.  The Pioneers dominated the match play and then teamed up for some mixed doubles fun.  Smith Tennis then took to the road on a Sunday afternoon to do, what they had planned, head north for spring break.  The idyllic drive up and over the snowy mountains in NH and past Mt. Washington ended in Intervale, NH at the quintessential Riverside Inn.  The lovely inn located near North Conway, NH, is the perfect resort destination any time.  The Inn is owned by the Ken and Chris Lydecker, parents of former Smith tennis player and all-conference doubles player, Catherine Lydecker.  The Lydeckers graciously opened their 7 room inn for three days to the team. The rooms are exquisite and the breakfasts unparalleled.  Smith Tennis determined that they did not always have to travel south for a good tennis experience.   Smith posted a decisive win over University of Southern Maine on their trek to Gorham Maine and then bowed to Colby-Sawyer at the Dartmouth Tennis facility on the way home.  Eight inches of snow fell on the team’s day off giving a picture perfect setting and winter playground for the team to experience.  The players  practiced, played, cooked and ate together for the three days and grew closer for the experience.

The team resumed classes on March 14 and prepared for a tough double header on March 30.  Simmons defeated Smith 9-0 on the indoor courts at Smith but not without some good rallies and choice point making.  The temperature broke 50 degrees by afternoon and the team fought with Endicott on the outdoor courts.  Jordan Dubin was the sole victor in the afternoon posting a decisive and impressive win over lefty Chrissy Martel, 6-4, 6-1.

MHC had a cliffhanger win earlier in the day with Endicott earning a hard fought 5-4 victory.  Smith’s win/loss record took a beating but not the team spirit.  They will gear up to play Lesley College on Wednesday, April 3 at Smith.