Men’s and women’s teams lose to Lancers on Saturday
Saturday proved to be a tough day for JMU tennis as the men’s and women’s teams both fell to Longwood.
The men’s team had a four-match win streak snapped as the Dukes lost 4-3, moving them to 8-8 on the season. JMU got off to a quick start winning all three doubles matches (8-2, 8-2, 9-8) but could not hold on in singles competition. While JMU lost four of six singles matches, JMU freshman Jared Robinson and senior Carlin Campell won their matches 6-3, 6-7, 1-0, and 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, respectively.
The women’s team dropped its third match in a row, losing 5-2. Women’s coach Maria Malerba knew going into the match that winning the doubles point would be crucial to a successful afternoon, and she tried new doubles combinations against Longwood.
“Our No. 1 doubles had not been playing well together as a combination,” Malerba said. “So we decided to try a combination of our No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to see if we could get better chemistry and I think it helped. Although we played better, [Longwood] just played better than us.”
The women dropped two of the three doubles matches, winning the first 8-6 but losing the second and third matchups 8-2 and 8-3.
Winning the doubles point gave Longwood momentum going into singles competition, and the Lancers won four of six singles matches.
“When you lose that crucial doubles point right away it kind of gets into your head a little bit when you get into the singles,” Malerba said.
Freshman Kristin Nimitz was a bright spot for JMU, winning her singles match 6-4, 6-3. She was also part of the doubles team that won Madison’s only doubles point, as she and sophomore Rebecca Erickson took that match 8-6.
The women’s team plays next at Radford on Tuesday, and this weekend will host the CAA Round Robin along with the men’s team for the first time in three years. The event will determine seeding for the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, which begins April 17.
Malerba feels the match against Longwood and other non-conference opponents has prepared JMU well for the Round Robin.
“I think with some new combinations having their first match, playing with their new partner, and playing again on Tuesday, those new combinations will be able to gel better by next weekend,” Malerba said.
