Our Seniors, 2012

Photo:  courtesy of Seema Samawi

Smith battles with Wesleyan 1-8

Smith College Tennis met a hard hitting team on Saturday, April 20 at Middletown, CT.  Wesleyan  University hosted Smith in the senior and final event of the season for the Pioneers.  The Wesleyan team came out of the blocks firing shots hard and fast.  At first it did not appear that Smith could keep up with the pace but on second observation, it was evident that after Smith got used to the pace, they used smart tactics and strategies to neutralize the power and get into the game.  Jaimi Inskeep and Clair Oblamski adjusted their tactics mid-set and in spite of the loss, controlled the match pace starting at the sixth game. The Wesleyan team showed their frustration as the Pioneers slowed the pace, ran down put-aways and placed the balls with premeditated accuracy and began racking up games.  Being able to adjust a bit quicker would have put the Smith number 1 doubles team in the running for the win.  Smith succumbed the number one doubles 4-8.

The number three doubles team of Allie Ryan and Julia Signell were ready to compete from the first point on.  They took an early lead and stayed ahead winning the lone point of the day for Smith.  The two have gained experience through the year, honed their style, communicated exceptionally well and were constantly moving and covering for each other yesterday. Coach Chris Davis commented that, from her perspective, this was their best match together this season.

The Smith team did not fare as well in singles bowing 0-6.  Hightlights did arise as Clair Oblamski took her opponent to three sets.  It seemed that her opponent could do no wrong as she attacked every ball but Clair never gave up often running to adjacent courts to retrieve an overhead and stay in the game.  Bayla Weick held up her reputation of being last on the court, forcing her player to be patient and error free in order to take the second set.  Bayla seldom misses and it becomes necessary for the opponent to hit outright winners in order to take the match.  Jaimi Inskeep, Jordan Dubin and Robyn Cyr were competitive and all earned 4 or more games in their individual singles matches

This was the concluding match for Smith Tennis this spring.  Smith will be graduating four seniors this season and those seniors will be missed.  Check our blog next week for senior highlights!

phottographs courtesy of Deedie Steele

Oblamski and Inskeep earn Smith Players of the Week

Seniors Jaimi Inskeep and Clair Oblamski earn Athlete of the Week Honors for the week of April15 after a 2-2 weekend at the Seven Sisters Championships.  Playing four matches at No. 1 doubles, Oblamski and Inskeep earned a pair of victories on day two of the event, winning 6-1, 6-0 against Vivien Chen and Eliza Perocchi of Bryn Mawr, and 7-5, 6-1 against Sarah Moore and AnnElizabeth Konkel of Mount Holyoke.

Seven Sisters' Championship, 2012

The Seven Sisters' Championship is in the record book but not before Jaimi Inskeep and Clair Oblamski made the tournament team. Playing first doubles for the duration of the tournament, the two chalked up two victories and a great deal of respect from all opponents. Competitive but good sportswomen throughout, the two work exceptionally well together. Their coach, Chris Davis, says that they are the perfect "hammer-wedge" combination complementing each others strengths and protecting for weaknesses. They are analytical and brave. They are willing to try new strategies in the heat of the competition. Clair will come from nowhere to poach a winner while Jaimi is steady and relentless at getting the ball back in play. Don't be surprised, however, if you see them switch roles as Jaimi is capable of putting that ball away and Clair can have patience when needed. This senior team has shown their dedication and expertise on the court and they have led this team to many successes along the way.

Smith Tennis had an overall good tournament finishing fourth in the historic championship. Senior Gianna Teague played number 1 singles. Jordan Dubin held the number 2 singles position posting the winning match in the 3-2 victory over Bryn Mawr. Bayla Weick never gave up at the number three singles position posting a win over Bryn Mawr and pushing MHC to the edge with a tiebreak finish. The number two doubles position was held by Allie Ryan and Julie Signell on Sat and Robyn Cyr and Haruka Shimoto on Sunday. Grace McCay-Corkum was available at a moment's notice and stepped in for two exhibition matches. All players played with heart and showed their dedication and commitment to Smith Tennis.

Photographs courtesy of Deedie Steele

Congratulations

Smith Tennis can boast of having 10 out of 13 players this season with grade point averages of 3.5 or better this spring. That is a great accomplishment of which we are all very proud!

Photograph courtesy of Deedie Steele

Tough Loss for the Pioneers

The Smith College Tennis Team dropped an 8-1 decision to Connecticut College on Saturday that saw Smith lose the top four singles matches in tiebreakers. Mount Holyoke College was the host site on march 31 for the "home" match of the Pioneers.

The Camels swept all three doubles matches entering singles with a 3-0 lead. Smith would battle back in singles play, as Oblamski earned Smith's only point at No. 5 with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Swanson. But the Pioneers could not get a tiebreaker to go their way on Saturday, as Teague fell to Krivoshik 5-7, 6-5, (10-12) at No. 1 singles, and Dubin lost to Herbert 5-7, 6-1, (6-10) at No. 2. Inskeep was beaten by Cangemi 2-6, 6-3, (6-10), at the No. 3 spot, and Badik edged Bayla Weick 7-5, 4-6, (5-10) at No. 4. Rohrbach also got a win for Conn. College at No. 6, with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Grace McKay-Corkum.

This concludes the final home matches for Smith this spring. The Pioneers will next be in action at the Seven Sisters Championship, beginning on April 14 at Mount Holyoke College.