On April 12, 2025, Tufts University hosted an eventful day that transcended mere athletic competition. The university celebrated the meaningful connection between collegiate athletes and children battling serious illnesses through Team IMPACT Awareness Day. Following a resounding 7-0 victory against Trinity College the previous day, the No. 11 Tufts women’s tennis team faced off against the formidable No. 5 Wesleyan Cardinals in a closely contested New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) match. Despite their valiant efforts, the Jumbos fell short with a final score of 6-1.
The doubles segment set the tone for the intense battle ahead. At the top doubles position, Natalie Hu and Stephanie Woodbury encountered difficulties early on, succumbing to Sarah Youngberg and Lane Durkin by a score of 6-1. Although the match appeared one-sided, it was much closer than the scoreboard suggested. Wesleyan capitalized on their momentum, breaking serve at crucial moments to secure their lead. Melanie Woodbury and Lucy Mitchell narrowly missed out on securing a point for Tufts at the third doubles spot, losing 6-4 to Lucinda Gatsiounis and Alexandra Burnett. However, Brooklyn Bindas and Athena Li managed to keep their spirits high, claiming a 7-5 win over Jacqueline Sloveychek and Natalia Leroy at the second doubles slot.
Moving into singles play, the Jumbos needed to triumph in four out of six matches to claim overall victory. Ellie Gershaw struggled to find her rhythm at the second singles position against Durkin, dropping the first set 6-1. Her attempts to rally in the second set were insufficient as Durkin sealed the win with another decisive set. Melanie Woodbury followed suit, falling to Sloveychek in straight sets with scores of 6-3 and 6-2. Despite her tenacity, unforced errors hindered Woodbury's progress.
In a grueling two-hour encounter, Bindas engaged in a hard-fought battle against Gatsiounis. She secured the first set with relative ease at 6-4 but faltered in the second, losing the tiebreaker 6-7 (0-7). In the deciding match tiebreaker, Bindas fought admirably but ultimately lost 6-10. Meanwhile, Lucy Mitchell displayed remarkable resilience against Youngberg at the third singles position, though she eventually lost 6-1, 6-3. Athena Li provided the only bright spot for Tufts, earning a hard-fought victory in the third-set tiebreaker with a score of 10-6.
Looking ahead, the Jumbos will aim to rebound during their upcoming doubleheader on April 19, taking on Connecticut College at 1 p.m. and Endicott College at 5 p.m., marking their final home matches of the season. These encounters promise to be pivotal as the team seeks to build momentum heading into the latter stages of their campaign.