In the inaugural dual match of their spring season, the Saint Joseph’s women’s tennis team faced off against Penn on Monday. The Quakers emerged victorious with a decisive 7-0 win, taking control in both doubles and singles play. Head coach Jeff Puhan noted that this was the first time his team had competed against a ranked program this spring, highlighting the challenges posed by nationally recognized players. Despite the loss, Puhan observed some promising performances from his athletes, particularly mentioning Victoria Tracey and Charlotte Kordonowy. The Hawks are now preparing for their next match against Temple at the Springton Tennis Club.

The encounter between Saint Joseph's and Penn provided an early test for the young Hawks team. The Quakers secured the initial advantage through their dominance in doubles matches. In the opening doubles bout, Sabine Rutlauka and Eileen Wang of Penn swiftly defeated Wiktoria Czerny and Victoria Tracey from Saint Joseph's. Following this, Lara Stojanovski and Esha Velaga, who are ranked 92nd nationally, overcame Charlotte Kordonowy and Brooke Tackett. Finally, Maya Urata and Sarah Wang of Penn triumphed over Addison Melfi and Ana Ocasio.

Transitioning into singles competition, the Quakers maintained their momentum. Ranked 27th, Sabine Rutlauka secured victory against Victoria Tracey, despite Tracey nearly extending the match. Eileen Wang also claimed a win over Wiktoria Czerny. Lara Stojanovski, Maya Urata, Sasha Motlagh, and Saige Roshkoff followed suit, each defeating their respective Saint Joseph's opponents in straight sets. Coach Puhan acknowledged the tightness of his team's performance but emphasized the positive aspects, such as Tracey's near success and Kordonowy's impressive showing after taking a break during the fall.

Looking ahead, the Saint Joseph’s women’s tennis team is focused on improvement. Coach Puhan expressed confidence in the process and the team's potential to grow stronger. The Hawks will soon face Temple, aiming to apply lessons learned from their match against Penn. This upcoming contest promises to be another crucial step in the team's development as they continue to refine their skills and strategies.