Women’s Tennis dropped a set of matches against both the University of California Irvine at the Outdoor Tennis Complex in West Long Branch and Providence College in the University of Rhode Island Invitational this past weekend.
On Friday morning, the Hawks hosted their fourth match of the season.
In their three prior home matches, Monmouth defeated the likes of St. Francis Brooklyn and Delaware State before dropping their most recent one to Wagner. Looking to rebound and finish up the home stretch strong, the Hawks were unable to prevail over UC Irvine as they fell by a score of 6-1.
In what was a rare matchup with UC Irvine, the Blue and White’s effort was headlined by the play of freshman Nicole Gasser. Gasser picked up the Hawks’ lone singles victory of the day by a score of 6-3, 6-3.
Outside of Gasser, seniors Alexandra Graff and Maria Ivanova, sophomores Chinonye Gabriel, Sydney DeNardo, and Rachel Rosenthal all dropped their respective singles matches.
Friday marked the first time that the two schools had ever faced each other in women’s tennis.
In doubles play, Monmouth was unable to get on the board with a victory. Gasser and her doubles teammate, Ivanova, dropped a 6-3 result in the first match.
The No. 2 doubles duo of Graff and junior Caroline Mattise lost by the slim margin of 7-5. The third doubles duo made up of Gabriel and DeNardo ended the morning with a 6-2 loss.
Following the defeat on Friday morning, the Blue and White traveled to Rhode Island on Saturday for the URI Invitational for a matchup with Providence.
The Hawks’ Gasser once again highlighted the day for the program, picking up another singles victory by a score of 1-6, 6-2, and 10-3, as well as a doubles victory with her partner Ivanova by a score of 8-4. Gasser, the Middletown, NJ native has won five out of six singles matches to begin her collegiate career.
Outside of these results, Monmouth did not pick up another victory, losing four of five singles matches and two of three doubles matches.
The Hawks matchup with the Friars on Saturday was the first time that the two schools have met since Oct. of 2008. The two programs have met four times since 2006, with Providence proving to be victorious in all four matchups.
To wrap up the URI Invitational, Monmouth was scheduled to play the host school, the University of Rhode Island on Sunday. However, rain prevented the match from starting and it was eventually cancelled.
The Blue and White’s next scheduled meet will take place over the fall break. Monmouth will hit the road for a matchup with Lafayette in Easton, PA.
The last time Monmouth and Lafayette met was on Oct. 2016 in PA. In that matchup, the Hawks proved to be victorious by a score of 4-3. Ivanova and Mattise each had both singles and doubles victories en route to Monmouth’s win. The singles victory for Mattise that day was the first of her collegiate career.
Saturday’s meet away to Lafayette is set for a 4:00 p.m. start.
PHOTO TAKEN by Karlee Sell
