By Tyler Morello
Staff Writer
With the season nearing its end, the College’s men’s and women’s tennis teams have been making one last push to finish on a high note.
After taking care of Kean University in the semi-final round, the women's team was matched up with Stockton University for the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday, April 26.
When these two schools faced off earlier in the regular season, the Lions got the best of the Ospreys in a clean 7-0 sweep.
Stockton, who defeated Rutgers-Camden in a thrilling 4-3 victory in the semifinals, have only had four players participating in the playoffs. This already puts them at a disadvantage having to forfeit one of the doubles matches and two singles matches.
The Ospreys’ room for error was incredibly small, and it was especially small against a dominant Lions squad that was determined to achieve their 42nd straight NJAC Championship.
With one of the doubles matches resulting in a forfeit, the Lions only had to win one of the remaining doubles matches to grab the point.
Sophomore Zoey Albert and freshman Shruti Mannan took the point for the College, winning 6-1. Senior Aira Abalos and freshman Gabrielle Brideau were on their way to a victory as well when their match got stopped while they were up 5-2.
With the two singles match forfeits for Stockton, the Lions only needed to secure one victory out of the remaining four singles matches. It was sophomore Gabriella Robinson who finished her match first, winning 6-0, 6-0 and giving the College its 42nd consecutive conference championship, the longest current conference championship streak for any team in any conference in any sport in the NCAA.
The men’s team advanced to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship, which will be played on Saturday, May 3. Before this, they faced Baruch College in their final regular season matchup of the season and came away with a win.
In doubles, juniors Harrison Maitland-Carter and Asa Wong won 6-1, while freshman Sidd Arudi and sophomore Nathan Chan matched them with a 6-1 victory of their own. Juniors Olufela Fieulleteau and Alberto Thomas dominated their match with a 6-0 win.
Maitland-Carter, Chan, Sidd and Fieulleteau each stayed undefeated on the day with wins in their singles matches. Sophomore Aidan Twamley was also victorious on the day, winning 6-0, 6-3.
The men’s team now looks to this weekend for their WIAC Championship match against No. 31 Wisconsin-Whitewater, while the women’s team awaits their seeding in the NCAA tournament.
