W. Tennis continues Ivy dominance

The Quakers improved to 4-0 in the Ivies and 15-0 overall in the spring with victories over Brown and Yale. When the Penn women's tennis team began its spring season exactly two months ago, the players looked to focus much of their energy on doubles play, where they felt the Ivy matches would ultimately be decided. Last weekend proved the team could not have been more right. In a pair of 6-3 Ivy League wins, over Brown on Friday and Yale the following afternoon, the Quakers (4-0 Ivy League) showed just how much they had improved their doubles pairs, and the contribution that this improvement has made to the team's staggering 15-0 spring season record. Against the Bears, the Red and Blue battled to a stalemate in the singles, entering the doubles matches tied 3-3. Senior tri-captain Brooke Herman narrowly saved the team from falling behind 4-2 in an incredibly exciting marathon match at No. 3 singles. Herman grabbed the first set 6-2, dropped the second 1-6 and let her opponent's momentum build a 4-2 lead in the final set. But encouraged by the cheers of both the sizable crowd in attendance and her fellow teammates, Herman turned the match around drastically. She fought to a 5-5 tie, then traded points back and forth in what seemed the longest game of the match, finally jumping out to a 6-5 lead. Mentally exhausted from such a tiring three-set ordeal, Herman still managed to win the final game and sent Penn into the doubles all tied at three. "That was one of the best matches of my collegiate career," Herman said. "It was such intense tennis and the points were just so long with us both blasting the ball from the baseline. I had not had a tough three-set match like that in a really long time and I would not have won without the support from my team." The team rallied after Herman's win to sweep the three doubles matches from the Bears. "We had some very close matches, but I think going into it we knew doubles would be really important," senior tri-captain Julia Feldman said. "To win all three definitely helps our confidence going into our next matches." But the Quakers could not sit back and relax after dispatching the Bears -- Penn faced an equally strong Yale team the very next day. Against the Elis, the Quakers again reached a 3-3 tie through the singles matches on victories by No. 1 Anastasia Pozdniakova, No. 4 Feldman and No. 6 Shubha Srinivasan. "Both Brooke and I were playing in our third sets, and at least one of us had to win for it to be three all in the singles," sophomore Srinivasan said. "[My opponent] was extremely consistent and I know I wouldn't have won that match if everyone on my team hadn't cheered for me." In the doubles, the No. 3 pair of senior tri-captain Karen Ridley and junior Elana Gold secured the first point for the Quakers, making the score 4-3. At No. 2, Herman and Pozdniakova finished off their Yale opponents to put the final touches on the match. Penn won the meeting, 6-3, again sweeping all three doubles matches. "Brooke and I felt confident in that match because [our opponent] lost to the Princeton team we had beaten," Pozdniakova said. "But we had to overcome some tension and keep those final points. It felt so great to get the final exclamation point on the match." Each player was incredibly pleased with the team's performance in the doubles matches, which had been one of the team's major goals since the fall. "We felt totally confident and we dominated those doubles matches which showed us that our work on doubles has really paid off," Herman said. "Plus it sends a message to the other Ivy schools that we are a tough team." Just as they they did for the last several home matches, the team members went all out to gather an excited crowd at these two important Ivy matches -- their last at home this year. Besides the free food and Penn Tennis T-shirts offered to the fans, coach Michael Dowd led the crowd in cheers and personally thanked fans who stayed the entire match to cheer on the Red and Blue. "[The crowd] really made a big difference for us," Dowd said. "Against Brown, it played a huge role in Brooke's match. You can see the opposing player getting upset, as it starts to get to them. I'm not sure we would be 4-0 in the Ivy League if it were not for the fans. The team really does appreciate everyone who came out and supported us." For the Quakers, the weekend meant two down, three to go, in their quest for a first-ever title. "They were two really tough matches with such high intensity," Pozdniakova said. "They were draining not only physically but emotionally. It was just an amazing effort and we are really happy."