The women's tennis team entered the weekend with a 1-4 overall record and a dubious position in the Ivy League race. Going up against undefeated Cornell and the two-time defending Ivy League champion Princeton Tigers, the weekend looked to be a difficult one. That, however, was not the case as the Big Green turned in two powerful wins and launched themselves into the Ivy League race.
"After losing our Ivy [League] opener 7-0to Penn, we never thought we'd be in the race for the title," Kallie Buehler '97 said. "Now it's clear that we have a chance."
Cornell came to Hanover on Friday sporting a perfect record. Katie Kirkmire '98 delivered the deciding point in Dartmouth's 4-3 victory, defeating the Big Red's Kelly Molloy 6-1, 6-4. Co-Captain Kiyoe Hashimoto '95 and Buehler were undefeated on the day, turning in a 8-6 victory in the doubles competition.
Hashimoto defeated Jigisha Pathaksi 6-1, 6-2 in the number three singles spot while Buehler won her singles match against Jeannie Yoo 7-6, 6-2.
The match against Princeton went far differently. The team that stepped on the courts was not the one that lost to Boston University and the University of Pennsylvania. Of course, that's because there were no close matches.
Taking all seven points, Dartmouth destroyed Princeton. The Big Green began as usual, winning the doubles point behind the undefeated team of Hashimoto-Buehler. Leading 1-0 after the doubles, the team's momentum continued.
Dartmouth won all the singles matches but one in straight sets. Only Princeton's Karen Hammerback took Tracy Lee '98 to three sets. Lee pulled out her first win of the season, winning the closest match of the day in the number two singles spot.
Lee opened the match with a 6-4 win in the first set, but lost the second 3-6. The third set was extremely close as both players remained within striking distance of thevictory, until Lee finally pulled it out with a 7-6 third-set win.
Buehler faced a difficult challenge early on in her singles match, escaping with a 7-6 win. But Buehler swept through the second set winning 6-2.
"I think our chances are really good. Every team is tough, but with the determination we had this weekend, we can do well." Kirkmire said. "I think right now our key is our depth and our doubles. Winning that first doubles point means a lot."
The weekend leaves the team at 3-4 overall and 3-1 in the Ivy League.
The importance of this weekend's success cannot be underestimated. Early in the season the team had trouble capitalizing on early successes and winning close matches.
But after two stunning victories, Brown and Yale will face a stronger, more confident Dartmouth tennis team as the Big Green returns to the road next weekend.
