How It Happened

Rhode Island opened up play for the 2016 fall season at the Tiger Invitational, held in Baltimore from Sept. 9-11.  Head coach Tim Murphy's roster features three returnees and six freshmen and played a series of matches throughout the weekend.  

The highlight of the weekend came on Saturday, with the Rams earning a victory over Atlantic 10 foe Saint Joseph's, 4-1.  Rhody got the win at #1 singles, as Mihaela Codreanu, Tiara Higuchi, and Paige Alstom each earned their first collegiate victories in singles play.  The doubles duo of Ariel Haber and Emily Zargham also took home a point with a doubles win.

Friday, Sept. 9
vs. Towson (L, 4-1)
Shakhnazarova (TOW) def. Codreanu (URI) 6-2, 6-2
Williams (TOW) def. Higuchi (URI) 7-6 (7-3), 7-5
Smilansky (URI) def. Vasilkova (TOW), 6-4, 6-2
Lesage (TOW) def. Alston (URI) 6-2, 6-0
van Oorschodt/Gloninger (TOW) def. Holden/Haber (URI) 3-6, 6-3 (10-5)

Saturday, Sept. 10
vs. Saint Joseph's (W, 4-1)
Codreanu (URI) def. Minnoe (SJU) 0-6, 6-4 (10-7)
Devlin (SJU) def. Smilansky (URI) 6-3, 2-6 (10-8)
Higuchi (URI) def. Zachem (SJU) 4-6, 7-5 (10-8)
Alston (URI) def. Gevens (SJU) 7-5, 6-0
Haber/Zargham (URI) def. Devlin/Contrata (SJU) 6-0, 6-2

Sunday, Sept. 11
vs. Delaware (L, 4-1)
Pilkington (UD) def. Codreanu (URI), 6-1, 6-1
Higuchi (URI) def. Komer (UD) 5-7, 6-4 (10-7)
Lemance (UD) def. Smilansky (URI) 1-6, 6-2 (10-7)
Studnick (UD) def. Alston (URI) 6-1, 6-1
Hall/Shuten (UD) def. Haber/Zargham (URI), 7-5, 6-3

vs. Towson (L, 5-0)
Vasilkova (TOW) def. Codreanu (URI) 6-0, 6-4
Gomer (TOW) def. Haber (URI) 6-2, 7-5
Gloringer (TOW) def. Zargham (URI) 6-4, 6-4
Bed (TOW) def. Rucks (URI) 6-4, 6-3
Shaldernova/Schusterman (TOW) def. Smilansky/Legler 6-2, 2-6 (11-9)

Quotable:

"We fought hard in every set and every match throughout the weekend.  We lost a lot of close ones, but overall this was a great opening trip and a positive experience for our program.  Our team showed a great attitude."
- head coach Tim Murphy

What's Next

Rhode Island travels to Smithfield, R.I. on Wednesday, Sept. 21 to take on Bryant at 3 p.m.