JMU beats GMU in season finale

Zesinger, Brown lead Dukes to dominant team victory over Patriots

The women’s tennis team easily defeated Colonial Athletic Association foe George Mason University 7-0 in its regular season finale at home on the Hillside Tennis Courts Friday.

The Dukes won all six of their singles matches and all four of their doubles matches. They didn’t lose a set all day in, arguably, their most impressive performance of the season.

"Our goal was to peak before the conference tournament, and we definitely did that today," coach Maria Malerba said.

The victory allowed JMU to finish the season at 12-6 overall and an impressive 3-1 in the CAA.

It was the last home regular season match for senior co-captains Margie Zesinger and Spencer Brown. Their doubles team went out with a bang, dominating George Mason players Katie Sloper and Maricel Ballester 8-1.

"We just played real solid today," Brown said. "We did a good job coming to the net."

Both Brown and Zesinger also won their singles matches in impressive fashion. Brown was particularly dominant, defeating George Mason’s Jamie Delorie in straight sets of 6-0, 6-1. Zesinger also defeated Maricel Ballester in straight sets of 6-2, 6-2.

"I didn’t let anything bother me," Zesinger said. "I stayed positive today and that was the key to my victory."

The closest match of the day was junior Kristin Veith’s 7-6, 7-6 victory over George Mason’s Jennifer Dektas in the No. 2 singles match. Both sets had to be decided by tie breaks as Veith struggled to defeat Dektas.

Veith faced far less adversity in her doubles match as she and junior Rebecca Vanderelst shut out George Mason’s team of Dektas and Delorie 8-0. The team won despite Vanderelst playing the entire match with an ankle injury that kept her out of her singles match.

Vanderelst’s injury forced sophomore Kristin Nordstrom to play at the No. 4 singles position rather than her normal position at No. 5. Nordstrom was up to the challenge handily defeating Sloper in straight sets 6-2, 6-1.

After the match, the focus was on Zesinger and Brown.

"It’s always hard when seniors leave," Malerba said. "These two co-captains really did a lot for the program, and they were always the backbone of the team."

When asked about their experiences at JMU, both Brown and Zesinger had nothing but positive things to say.

"I wouldn’t trade this team for anything," Zesinger said. "My experience as a women’s tennis player has helped me as both a person and a player."

Brown added, "I learned a lot over my four years here. My game just matured so much as a result of my experience on this team."

The women’s tennis team next heads to Williamsburg and the campus of the College of William & Mary for the CAA tournament from April 22 to 25. They will play the University of North Carolina-Wilmington in the first round.