The Fall Tennis Season Concludes but this is only the beginning

The NEWMAC conference championship took place at Smith College on October 23 and 24. Wheaton College defeated Wellesley in an exciting finals match. Smith College did not qualify for the event but they were; never the less, very much involved. The entire Smith College Tennis Team ran the event announcing the line-ups, selecting the pre-game music, cleaning courts after the rain, updating scores, posting results, watching for the player-of-the-tournament and voting on the team with the best sportsmanship. They gave their time and energy unselfishly and served as a role model of “servant leadership” by helping make the tournament special for the participants. Coach Chris Davis said “the Smith team understands the importance of giving back to the sport they love. They gave of their time with class and enthusiasm and I am proud of the their willingness to serve.” One team member was heard saying, at the awards ceremony: “let’s be in the event this coming fall!” The team promises to work together throughout the winter and will, no doubt, return to spring play stronger than ever.

In the meantime, you will find the tennis team engaged in fund raising and community service events throughout the winter months. This Friday (Oct 29) marks the beginning for the second session of the Quick Start for kids. The team members organize and teach the three week event that meets on Fridays at 5:45pm. Sign up will be open until Friday morning of the event.

Check back often to learn of more tennis events of the Smith and surrounding communities.

Smith Tennis Ends on High Note

Six members of the Smith College Tennis Team participated in the prestigious NEWITT (New England Women’s Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament) October 15-17. The tournament field included 128 participants from 27 colleges in New England. Smith participated in the B flight (named for Smith’s coach, Chris Davis). Every member of the Smith team won a minimum of a singles and doubles match with the highlight going to the third doubles team of Clair Oblamski and Eunice Zhao. Thrust into the consolation flight after their first round loss against a Brandeis team, the duo worked their way through the consolation draw defeating Curry College, receiving a default in the next round and battling to victory in an exciting finish to win the consolation finals against MIT.

Smith tennis concludes play this week (Oct 18) but will host the NEWMAC conference championship on Sat, Oct. 23 and 24.

Smith Tennis Defeats Clark

Smith College Tennis Team nailed down their first win of the season with one doubles and five singles wins in a 6-3 win over Clark University in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference finale on Tuesday afternoon.

Smith trailed 1-2 after doubles play, with only the duo of Nikki Anderson and Maggie Steiner recording a win. The pair topped Clark's duo of Julia Bergeron and Emily Schweitzer 8-5 at No. 2 doubles, while Clair Oblamski and Eunice Zhao came close to recording their third straight win at No. 3 doubles, falling narrowly to Maggie Swann and Olivia Levin 8-9 (5-7).

The Pioneers battled down to the wire in singles . Jaimi Inskeep was pitted against with the toughest competition as she faced Gaby Suriano, a top ranked junior out of Ecuador. Inskeep played with heart but was only able to earn three games. Teague knocked off Bergeron 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3. Oblamski also won by a 6-2, 6-2 count defeating Swann at No. 4. Steiner was the third Pioneer to win by a 6-2, 6-2 score cruising past Olivia Levine at No. 5 . The singles wins gave Smith a 4-2 lead with only one more win needed to give the Pioneers the victory. Anderson and Zhao held everyone in suspense as each battling on their respective courts. Eunice Zhao; however, brought in the winning point with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 6. , Nikki Anderson followed suit by edging out Sarah Sachs 6-2, 7-5 at No. 2 singles, The exciting match ended in a 6-3 victory for Smith.


Smith will take part in the New England Women's Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament, from October 15 through the 17.

Oblamski, Zhao Win In Doubles Over Wellesley

The doubles combination of Clair Oblamski and Eunice Zhao won their second consecutive doubles match to lock up Smith's lone point in an 1-8 defeat to Wellesley in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference tennis action on Saturday.

Oblamski and Zhao knocked off the Blue's duo of Mika Asaba and Elena Bowen by a 8-6 count.

At No. 2 doubles, the Smith tandem of Nikki Anderson and Maggie Steiner had Wellelsey 7-6 but lost momentum and the match giving the Wellesley pair of Nathalie Herman and Raji Nagalla the win at 9-7.

Zhao also came close to notching a point at No. 6 singles before falling to Morgan Johnstonbaugh 3-6, 5-7.

Smith dropped to 0-6 with the loss. Wellesley, currently second in the NEWMAC, improves to 6-2, with a 5-1 record in NEWMAC play. Their only loss was at the hands of defending champs Wheaton College.

Smith will host Clark in their penultimate match of the season on October 12. Wellesley will host Babson on the same date.

Springfield defeats Smith in hard fought match

Clair Oblamski and Eunice Zhao earned all the points at singles and doubles, but the Smith College tennis team fell 3-6 to local rival Springfield in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference action on Tuesday night.

Oblamski and Zhao first joined forces to topple the Pride's Erin Woodbury and Siana Green 8-6 at No. 3 doubles.

Zhao earned the Pioneers a point at No. 6 singles with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Vanessa Senecal, and Oblamski battled through a three set match against Kyla Walgren at No. 3 singles, winning 6-3, 5-7, 10-4. Clair's match started on the outdoor courts and finished on the indoor surface.

The No. 1 doubles pair of Gianna Teague and Jaimi Inskeep pushed their counterparts of Walgren and Amy Shaw to the limit in a 9-7 loss, while Nikki Anderson and Maggie Steiner also fell just short at No.2 doubles, falling 8-4.

Smith will be at home for the first time since September 25, playing host to Wellesley on October 9 at 1 p.m. in a NEWMAC matchup.

Smith Tennis earned 54 games against Babson on Sat, Oct 2 but that was not enough to take the Beavers down. Although Smith won at number 2 doubles as well as 2 singles and 6 singles, Babson dominated the match with a 6-3 overall victory.

The number 2 doubles team of Nikki Anderson and Maggie Steiner notched another win in their belts for Smith as they defeated Mercer and Lake 8-3. The hard hitting duo adjusted their style mixing lobs and slices with their big groundstrokes. The combination proved successful.

The outstanding player for Smith on Saturday was Nikki Anderson. She won both her singles and doubles and she did it decisively with penetrating groundstrokes and sharp angles. Nikki was pitted against former high school rival, Rebecca Stone. Nikki rose to the challenge defeating and frustrating Rebecca in straight sets.

Sarah Whitaker backed number one player for Smith, Jaimi Inskeep, into a corner dominating the first set 6-0. Jaimi remained calm and confident and persisted her way into three sets by hitting deep ground strokes and premeditated passing shots. She frustrated her big hitting opponent by anticipating every stroke and moving smoothly and efficiently on the court to counter each attack. In the end; however, Whitaker regained her composure and her strokes to win the match 6-0, 1-6, 6-2.

Eunice Zhao is an all court player who has perfected her counter punching style by getting to every ball and being exceptionally consistent. She was ready for the challenge on Sat winning in a long three set match which was decided by a match breaker.

The exhibition players for Smith made a strong stand with Nawal Mays and Allie Ryan winning at fourth doubles and Julia Signell and Grace McKay-Corkum winning at fifth doubles. Szilvi Kiss earned a hard fought three setter in singles falling to the court in triumph as though she had won the US Open.

Smith continues to player harder and smarter with each match. They will be on the road on Tuesday, Oct 5 against Springfield College.