Women's Tennis Picks Up First Win Of 2014, Defeats Houghton 6-3
AURORA, N.Y. – Sparked by three singles and three doubles wins, the Wells College women's tennis team posted their first victory of the 2013-14 campaign by defeating the visiting Highlanders of Houghton College by a 6-3 margin on Saturday. With the win, Wells jumps to 1-6 overall while the Highlanders drop to 2-12 overall on the year.
Wells improves to 5-0 against Houghton all-time with the victory. The last victory for the Express came on Oct. 2, 1978, a 5-0 blanking of the Highlanders. Houghton recently revived their women's tennis program during the 2013-14 season after a lengthy hiatus.
The tandem of senior Brittany Vanno (Whitesboro, N.Y.) and sophomore Taryn Heath (Truxton, N.Y.) at No. 1 doubles defeated the pair of Bethany Chesebro and Jennifer Mechler from Houghton via an 8-2 score. At No. 2 doubles, sophomore Brooke Benedetto (Williamstown, N.Y.) and classmate Miku Kogu (Toyota, Aichi, Japan) followed with an 8-5 defeat of Jennifer Iacucci and Hannah Hale while the duo of sophomore Kevisha Hunt (Germantown, N.Y.) and classmate Mizuki Furuta (Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan) snuck by the pair of Libby Wideman and Ava Bergen by an 8-4 score.
At No. 1 singles, Vanno was able to set down Chesebro by scores of 6-3, 6-2. Falling at No. 2 singles, Benedetto was able to pick up a clutch win at No. 3 singles (6-1, 6-4) while Furuta picked up her first collegiate victory with a 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 4 singles against Mechler.
With a singles victory this afternoon, Vanno passes former student-athlete and Wells College women's tennis Head Coach Katie Somerville '03 to capture ninth place all-time in career singles wins. Additionally, her 20th collegiate doubles victory places her in a three-way tie for 10th place in team history alongside Heidi Blackwell '83 and former teammate Kelly Pietruch '13.
The Express will look to remain undefeated against Cazenovia in team history (9-0-1) as they face-off against the Wildcats in a 3:00 p.m. showdown at the YMCA of Greater Syracuse in Manlius, N.Y. on Saturday, Apr. 5.
