URI women's tennis team takes ECAC Invitational
(CSTV U-WIRE) KINGSTON, R.I. -- The University of Rhode Island women's tennis team got off to an auspicious start, taking first place at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Invitational in their season opener.
Over the course of the two-day tournament at the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., the Rams tallied 16 points by earning five medals within a field of eight colleges. Rounding out the top three were Lehigh University with 13 points and Fairfield University with 12.5 points.
"I was totally pleased with the weekend," URI head coach Sandy Wood said. "It was fun because it was a new event for us [and] fun to play on grass, which is very different and exciting for us."
"With the whole venue at the Tennis Hall of Fame, the girls really rose to the occasion," Wood added. "We had to win a lot of tough matches, and it was a good showing by everyone."
The most impressive performance of the tournament came from the No. 4 singles player, freshman Nyssa Peele, who dominated her competition to win the only gold medal for the Rams.
She will add another facet to an already impressive Rams team, who finished 15-3 last season.
"Nyssa has great skills with a great tennis background," Wood said. "As a junior, she was ranked in the top 100 in country and she gives us tremendous depth in our rotation."
In her URI debut, she defeated Sacred Heart's Mandy Finkelstein 6-0, 6-0, Fairfield's Michaela Cerrone 6-0, 6-1 and Lehigh's Francesca Murasco Blank 6-1, 6-2.
Rams No. 1 singles senior Lara Maurer, a transfer student from the University of Kentucky, turned in an impressive performance in her URI debut.
After handily defeating Niagara University's Vanja Lakic 6-1, 6-1 and Sacred Heart's Julianne Kasinow 6-1, 6-2, Maurer was defeated by University of New Hampshire's Olivia Fleszar 6-2, 2-6, 1-6.
Last year while playing No. 2 singles, she helped lead the Wildcats to a No. 17 national ranking.
Wood said he has been very impressed with Maurer.
"She is one of the better players I have seen, and she will be one of the top players in New England," he said.
