Dukes ace Colonials

JMU pulls out two tiebreakers in route to victory over GWU

Carolyn Walser / senior photographer Senior Kristen Veith returns a shot druing JMU's match against GWU. Veith paried with Vanderheist to win 9-8 at the No. 1 doubles position in a tiebreak.

JMU women’s tennis showed up to win this weekend. After defeating Longwood University 5-2 April 9, the Dukes took down George Washington University 5-2 Sunday.

The Dukes won all three of the doubles matches to earn the doubles point and then took No. 2, 3, 4 and 5 singles. Sophomore No. 5 player Mary Napier improved her undefeated streak in singles to 9-0.

"We knew it was going to be a tough match," senior Rebecca Vanderelst said. "We’ve had a good rivalry going on for a couple years now."

Coming off of two wins this weekend, the players are starting to peak at the right time.

"With two weeks left in the season, we are trying to peak at the right time before the CAAs," coach Maria Malerba said.

Junior Ashley Reyher had the toughest match of the day at the No. 4 position. After losing the first set 3-6, she came back in the second and won 7-6 (9-7) in a second set tiebreak. She went on to down her opponent 10-6 in the 10-point tiebreak that decided the match.

"I knew I need to balance being aggressive and consistent in my singles match," Reyher said. "Coach Malerba told me to focus on a couple things at a time, and to not think about the score."

Seniors Kristen Veith and Rebecca Vanderelst had an equally tough doubles match at the No. 1 position. They won 9-8 (7-3). Vanderelst went on to win her No. 3 singles match 6-2, 6-4.

"Winning the doubles helped me get pumped for singles," Vanderelst said. "It helped me get a rhythm on my serve."

Vanderelst wasn’t the only Duke who found a rhythm against GWU.

Junior Kristin Nordstrom defeated her opponent 6-4, 6-0 at the No. 2 position, and also paired with sophomore Mary Napier to win the No. 2 doubles match 8-6.

While the Dukes look strong heading into the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, Malerba says there are always thing the team can work on.

"We still need to work on keeping our poaching aggressive in doubles," Malerba said. "We also want to work on keeping depth in singles, and not hitting short shots. But overall I am very happy with the way the weekend went."