All eyes were on the women's tennis team's No. 3 doubles match Saturday against Yale (10-4 overall, 1-1 Ivy League). Down 8-7, senior Stephanie Berg and sophomore Laura Trimble rallied to push the match to a tiebreak, but soon found themselves in a 6-2 hole against Reshmi Srinath and Rashmee Patil. On the next point, Princeton stole the momentum as Trimble slammed home a miss-hit lob by the Bulldogs. This was not enough to stage a comeback, however, as Yale won the next point, taking the set, the doubles point and eventually the match itself.
The Tigers (8-7, 2-1) had just come off a dominating 7-0 victory over Brown (9-5, 0-1) on Friday before falling to the Bulldogs, 5-2, at Lenz Tennis Center.
The men's team (12-6, 1-2) also saw action against No. 43 Brown (18-5, 2-0) and Yale (5-10, 1-1) in a weekend road trip, coming home with a split. Princeton was downed, 6-1, by the No. 43 Bears on Friday, but rallied to hand the Bulldogs a close 4-3 defeat the next day.
Bears whimper, not roar
The women's team dominated from the start against Brown, sweeping doubles play. Sophomores Darcy Robertson and Joanna Roth cruised to an 8-2 victory at No. 1. Likewise, junior Jessica Siebel and freshman Ivana King spent little time dispensing Michelle Pautler and Ashley Pariser at No. 2, also winning 8-2. Freshmen Christine Kansky and Natalie Arcario faced tough opposition at No. 3, but came out on top, 8-6.
King also won in No. 6 singles, crushing Kelley Kirkpatrick 6-1, 6-1. Robertson emerged with a straight set win over Alex Arlak, 6-4, 6-1. The other four singles matches were hotly contested three-setters, but the Tigers still managed to take all of them. Junior Alison Hashmall, playing No. 4, battled from a set down to claim the win. Kansky also had a comeback victory No. 3, defeating Daisy Ames in a tiebreak. Siebel and Roth, playing No. 1 and 5, respectively, also took three-setters.
The shutout of Brown came on the heels of last week's victory over Penn.
"We really wanted to win and show the Ivy League that our win against Penn wasn't a fluke and that we are this good, and all the work we've put into our season has paid off," King said.
Princeton came out swinging the next day against Yale, but victory eluded them this time. Robertson and Roth got off to a strong start at No. 2 doubles, winning 8-2, but the Bulldogs took the doubles point following the 9-8 thriller at No. 3.
Yale also turned in a strong showing in singles. Down 3-0 in her match at No. 1 singles, Siebel appeared to be retaking the momentum as she lured Srinath in with a slice backhand before crushing another backhand to grab the point. Srinath was able to maintain composure, though, and despite a strong second set effort by Siebel, she went on to a 6-0, 7-5 victory. King let nothing stand in her way, as she dropped only three games in a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 6. Hashmall earned the other Tiger point, downing her No. 4 foe 6-3, 6-4.
"Balls that I didn't expect to see returned were returned. I believe if we were to play them again, we would win," King said. "A good factor in how we play is our confidence level, and I think we all believe we can win the Ivy League, which means this week's match against Harvard is very important."
The Tigers face the Crimson in Cambridge, Mass., on Saturday
The men's team faced a seasoned Brown squad in Providence on Friday. The Tigers fought hard early, and their effort paid off as they claimed the doubles point. Senior Josh Burman and sophomore Sratha Saengsuwarn topped their opponents, 8-6, at No. 2. Junior Darius Craton and sophomore Ted Mabrey clinched the point at No. 3 with a 9-8 victory.
But the Bears battled back fiercely in singles to take all six points. No. 1 Burman fell 7-5, 6-3 against the nation's No. 88 ranked singles player.
The next day in New Haven, Conn., Princeton was not to be denied. Juniors Andrew Lieu and Hans Plukas came out on the right side of a 9-8 match at No. 1 doubles. Burman and Saengsuwarn also earned a close 9-7 win at No. 2.
Having taken the doubles point, the Tigers worked hard to clinch the match in singles. Saengsuwarn, playing No. 2, felled Rowan Reynolds, 6-0, 4-6, 7-5. At No. 5, Lieu had no trouble in the first set, getting out to a 6-1 lead, and held on in the second against Rory Green for the 6-1, 7-5 win. Senior David Gopsten dropped the first set of his No. 6 match, 6-4, but marched back and demolished Chris Lawler in the next two, granting the Bulldog only three games.
Burman faced off against his second top-90 opponent in as many days, putting up a fight but eventually falling to No. 78 Brandon Wai, 6-4, 6-4.
Following the 4-3 win at Yale, the Tigers look to even their Ivy record, facing Dartmouth at home on Friday.
Read More
Preview: No. 3 men’s lacrosse plays No. 5 Syracuse in NCAA quarterfinals
Hayk YengibaryanShould the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.
Should the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.
Six for six: men’s and women’s track and field both complete triple crown
Luke StocklessMen’s and women’s track and field each won the Ivy League title this past weekend, capping off a dominant season in which both teams won the triple crown — a feat not seen in 14 years.
Men’s and women’s track and field each won the Ivy League title this past weekend, capping off a dominant season in which both teams won the triple crown — a feat not seen in 14 years.
Nation’s No. 2 miler Mena Scatchard ’25 to transfer to Stanford for graduate year
Luke StocklessThe Tigers’ most decorated distance runner ever has decided to use her final year of eligibility at Stanford after graduating from Princeton this May.
The Tigers’ most decorated distance runner ever has decided to use her final year of eligibility at Stanford after graduating from Princeton this May.