June 13, 2006
The URI women's tennis team enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in 2005-06. Second-year head coach
Sandy Wood and the Rams finished with a 15-3 record against virtually the same competition
it finished with a 4-16 mark a year earlier.
Wood attributed the dramatic improvement "to improved play by our veterans, hard work by the players and the recruitment of a very strong freshman class. We targeted improving consistency with drills, while also focusing on the strategic elements of matchplay. All the players improved throughout the course of the year."
One big difference was the addition of five strong first-year players who saw extensive playing time. Freshman Valerie Chacon had a huge impact playing at No.1 singles, finishing with a 17-5 record, including a 5-1 mark in the Atlantic 10. She teamed with classmate
Jessica Sims, who totaled a 15-6 record primarily at No. 4 singles, to finish with a stellar 19-1 record at No. 2 doubles. Chacon's overall record of 36-6 is one of the highest win totals every by a URI player.
Senior
Erin Fleming was very steady at No. 2 singles, posting a 10-9 record while teaming with freshman
Grace Hedstrom to finish 15-7 at No. 1 doubles including big wins against Sacred Heart and New Hampshire. Hedstrom also compiled an 11-8 singles record mostly at No. 3.
Freshman Haley Loewenthal used her steady game to go 15-5 at No.5 singles including a 4-1 record in the conference. Sophomore
Emily Conant was solid at No. 6 singles, winning many big matches typically as the last player on the court. She won the No. 6 flight at the New Englands with her athleticism and performance under pressure. Conant also competed at No. 3 singles with freshman Caroline Reuschel and ended the year with a 12-6 mark.
Sophomore
Whitney Squires and Junior
Revathi Annapareddy were integral members of the team as well providing us with excellent depth.
Coach Wood stated "We competed well, winning all the close matches this year plus all the matches we were supposed to win. Each match, someone would pull through when we needed it. We never knew who the hero would be. It was a great season for URI women's tennis!"
