The women’s tennis team triumphed again this past weekend, using its home-court advantage to beat two nationally ranked opponents. With wins over nationally ranked No. 36 Ohio State University Saturday and No. 74 Boston College Sunday, No. 38 Yale extended its winning streak to 10.
Yale (10-0) beat Boston College (5-3), 6-1, Sunday, but Saturday’s match was far closer. After losing the doubles point, the Bulldogs had to win four of six singles matches to best the Buckeyes (5-1), 4-3.
Captain Biffy Kaufman ’03 won 7-5, 7-6 (1) at No. 2 singles, and Susie Hiniker ’03 cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 win. Karlyn Martin ’04 and Stephanie White ’05 posted scores of 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (4) and 6-1, 6-2, respectively.
“Susie [Hiniker] and Stephanie [White] both played really well this weekend,” Kaufman said. “They won their matches easily.”
Yale’s No. 1 singles position, Margaret Purcell ’04, lost 6-4, 6-2 to nationally ranked No. 75 Sadhaf Pervez. But Purcell teamed with Ashley Martin ’04 for Yale’s lone doubles win Saturday, 8-5 in No. 3 doubles. Purcell is 6-7 this year in singles and 9-1 in doubles play.
“That’s partly a function of the quality of competition I face at the two positions,” Purcell said. “It’s tough, because playing one you always know you are going to have a tough match.”
Purcell was ahead a set and up 2-0 in the second Sunday against Boston College’s No. 1 singles, but in the end she fell 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Purcell said she changed her mindset as the match progressed.
“I was definitely more aggressive in dictating the points in the first set,” Purcell said. “I was trying to get to the net faster, and then when I was ahead, I got a little hesitant and I didn’t want to go for as much.”
Last season, Purcell was briefly nationally ranked No. 134 in March 2002. She hopes to regain a national ranking by beating some ranked opponents during Yale’s spring break trip to the West Coast.
The Elis have fared significantly better in singles action than in doubles play. They won nine of 12 singles matches this weekend, but the Bulldogs could capture only three of the six doubles.
“We have new doubles partners, and it’s all about getting used to your partner,” said Kaufman, who is 10-1 in singles and 4-3 in doubles. “We’re improving, so that’s good.”
Over spring break, Yale will face DePaul University, the University of California-Irvine, California State University-Northridge, Rice University and the University of San Diego.
Kaufman, who is from San Diego, is looking forward to the trip.
“I get to stay at home, so I’m definitely excited,” Kaufman said. “Especially for the warm weather. I think everyone’s excited: we get to be outdoors, and we have a lot of good matches, fun practices, and training.”