The University of Dayton women’s tennis team concluded its four-match road trip to begin the spring season in Kalamazoo, Mich., on Sunday, Jan. 20, and Monday, Jan. 21.
Dayton competed against Valparaiso University on Sunday and host Western Michigan University on Monday.
Going into to Sunday’s match against Valpo, head coach Ryan Meyer said the Flyers were feeling confident, and the team would sustain it on the court. The team ended up sweeping the competition 7-0.
Dayton sophomore Sammi Hornbarger beat Valpo junior Kristin Zakiewicz 6-0, 6-4 in No. 1 singles play, while UD freshman Carly Peck defeated Valpo sophomore Kaitlyn Hamel 6-3, 6-0 in the No. 2 match. UD junior Maureen Stevens also won in No. 3 singles versus Valpo sophomore Michele Fredlake 6-0, 6-1.
Dayton freshman Katie Boeckman, junior Erin Filbrandt and sophomore Victoria Marchant won their respective matches, while overcoming a combined 10 dropped games.
In doubles play, UD swept all three matches to take the point. Stevens and Peck teamed up to beat Zakiewicz and Fredlake 8-3. Hornbarger and Boeckman, as well as Filbrandt and sophomore Georgia Lammers teamed to win the other two matches.
Meyer said he was more than pleased with the team’s performance.
“We played great,” Meyer said. “I was most impressed with the attitude we put in on the court, and we were able to maintain that attitude in each match.”
Western Michigan proved to be too much to handle for Dayton on Monday, winning every match in defeating the Flyers 7-0.
Peck put up a fight in No. 2 singles against WMU junior Kathleen Hawkins. The freshman won the first set 6-4, but lost the following set 4-6, forcing a super-tiebreaker, which Hawkins won.
“We ran into a tough team that was simply better than we were,” Meyer said. “They had a head coach that has been coaching there for a long time, now. Being new to UD, it’s going to take some time to get to that level.”
Hornbarger said she was pleased with her teammate’s performances this weekend.
“We performed very well,” Hornbarger said. “We played some good teams out there, and played some good matches. Overall, it was a good start to the spring season.”
Meyer said he is looking forward to the team’s upcoming schedule and hopes for success as the spring season continues.
“I have high hopes for the rest of the season,” Meyer said. “We’ve showed great strides and kept our heads high. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season, so we can make more strides in the right direction.”
Dayton’s next match is home against Robert Morris University at 5 p.m., hosted at the Five Seasons Sports Club.
