No funny business—Women's tennis makes fools of competition

By Frank Visco
Collegian Editor
April 5, 2006

Although it was April Fools’ Day on Saturday, April 1, the women’s tennis team showed no signs of fooling around over the past week, as it won games against Philadelphia University, West Chester and Morgan State. With each outing the team improved, going from a 4-3 win to a 5-2 victory, and then to a 6-1 triumph.

“The team seems to be doing really well right now,” sophomore Martha Kutteh said. “We switched our doubles partners up a bit, so we’re getting used to the adjustment and gaining more confidence in one another as the season goes on.”

Freshman Lauren Perry readies a lethal serve. Perry had a good week for the
Explorers, winning all three of her singles matches. Photo taken by Gwen Tuxbury.

On Wednesday, March 29, the team traveled to Philadelphia University, where it claimed a tight 4-3 win. While Philly U. managed to take all three doubles matches, the Explorers prevailed in the singles matches, taking four of six to convert the win.

Junior Joann Lee started things off strongly out of the top spot, posting a 6-4, 7-5 win over Philadelphia U.’s Maddie Smith. Philly U. struck back with a win in the next match, a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) dogfight between Amanda Frantz and senior Dana Koch.

However, La Salle regained form from there on out, as freshman Lauren Perry (6-3, 4-6, 6-3), senior Courtney Tereszcuk (6-1, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1) and Kutteh (6-4, def) put up successive wins to ensure the victory.

“Being so close [to Philadelphia University], there’s definitely a rivalry aspect to the matches with them,” Kutteh said. “It was definitely a close one, and they gave us a run for our money.”

The Explorers continued to play well on Saturday, April 1 by posting a 5-2 victory over the visiting West Chester Golden Rams. This time the women managed to sweep the doubles matches, while once again winning four of the six singles matches.

La Salle received dominant performances from Lee (6-0, 6-1), Koch (6-1, 6-1), Perry (6-3, 6-2) and Kutteh (6-2, 6-1). Meanwhile, Tereszcuk lost a tight match to West Chester’s Katherine Edwards (6-1, 4-6, 10-5), and sophomore Krista Benedette fell to Megan Doyle (6-1, 6-0).

The Explorers extended the week’s dominance to Sunday, April 2, with a 6-1 triumph over Morgan State. The team managed to sweep the doubles matches, and took all but one of the individual contests.

Lee started off the match with a 7-6 (7-5), 2-6 (10-8) loss to Morgan State’s Walaa Elsir. However, Koch (6-3, 6-2), Perry (7-5, 4-6 (10-2)), Tereszcuk (6-4, 2-6 (10-0)), Kutteh (6-2, 6-2) and Benedette (6-2, default) all managed to convert singles victories.

According to Kutteh, the team’s recent success can be linked to Lee’s return to the team, after she missed the fall season.

“Obviously, a big part of the success is a matter of building confidence in one another and getting back into the flow of playing again,” she said. “However, with Joann Lee back, everyone’s bumped down one spot, and so they are stronger at their positions. She’s definitely playing a big part in the team’s overall success.”

After their stellar week, the women improved their spring record to 3-3 (8-8 overall). The next time they’ll see action is Friday, April 7 at the Atlantic 10 Championships.

“Since this is my first year, I don’t know what to expect,” Kutteh said. “I know the team hasn’t done well at A-10s in the past, so I’m really hoping we play well so that the seniors can go out on a good note.”

viscof1@lasalle.edu