W. tennis breaks even on weekend

The tennis teams seemed to be a little less than their best this weekend, as both the men and women suffered big losses. The women recorded their first win of the season as well.

Even record

The women's team (1-1) split this past weekend's matches, losing Saturday to Virginia but picking up the pieces to win Sunday against Seton Hall.

In Princeton's home opener, sophomore Jessica Siebel was the lone winner for the Tigers, defeating Virginia's Laura Brunch in a three-set match, 6-2, 1-6, 10-7. Unable to catch a break at any other position on the ladder, the Tigers dropped the match to Virginia, 6-1.

The women rallied on Sunday to claim a victory over Seton Hall at Jadwin, winning 6-1 and evening their record to 1-1 on the fresh season. The Tigers swept the doubles matches and took five of the singles matches en route to victory.

Siebel was again victorious, winning her matches at No. 2 singles and doubles, alongside her partner senior Alex Kobishyn. Freshman No. 1 Darcy Robertson won her first set, 6-4, and her second, 7-6 (7-3), in a well-played tie-break at No. 1 singles.

Nos. 4 and 6, Laura Trimble and Rankin Williams, respectively, cruised to easy singles wins as well in their teams' victory.

The Tiger women hope to carry momentum from Sunday's victory into this weekend's away matches against Marshall College and Penn State, which will be played in State College, Pa.

Two tough matches

The men suffered a resounding 6-1 defeat against Army, marking their first loss to the Golden Knights since 1945.

"The Army match was our wakeup call that we cannot get by solely on our talent," senior Tim Kofol said. "We need to play every match like it's the most important match of the season."

Following the disappointing results at Army, the Tigers faced No. 27 Clemson. Princeton came to play, taking the doubles point by winning the Nos. 1 and 2 doubles matches. Kofol and his No. 2 doubles teammate, freshman Sratha Seanswaurn, completed an upset of the No. 17 doubles team in the country.

But after Princeton's doubles success, Clemson's singles lineup dominated the Tigers of the Princeton variety, winning at Nos. 2 through 5 to take the match by the final score of 5-2.

"The doubles point left us emotionally in the driver's seat," Kofol said. "But Clemson's singles were just too much for us."

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Despite their losses this weekend, the men are hopeful that their strong doubles victories will keep the players' spirits high for their upcoming weekend home matches.