Binghamton, NY – The SUNY Oneonta women's tennis team rebounded nicely after a heartbreaking loss to New Paltz last week and took on the 11-1 Fredonia Blue Devils at the Binghamton Tennis Center. The Blue Devils having one of their finest seasons in years ran into a very hungry 10-1 Red Dragon squad with both teams trying to earn a playoff spot in this all important SUNYAC matchup.
From the outset, the Red Dragon women showed their superiority in doubles without the Blue Devils earning any match victories. On the number one tier Oneonta freshman
Rebecca Macdonald (Brooklyn/Leon M. Goldstein) got the last minute start today teaming with senior
Alyssa Brault (Rochester/Churchville-Chili). Macdonald for the first time in her career played in the number one doubles place and had a case of nerves but settled into the match quickly with good serves and terrific net play. Macdonald's play was complimented by the veteran Brault who was equally dominant with an aggressive line of attack. The number one tandem eventually doubled up their opponents 8-4. At the second flight freshman
Olivia Fraser (Queensbury/Queensbury) and sophomore
Mya Lipscomb (Peekskill/Walter Panas) also doubled up their opponents both playing aggressively and not allowing their opponents to take over the net outlasting their foes 8-4. The third doubles flight saw freshmen
Madeline Carswell (Albany/Bethlehem) and
Alexandra Dratch (Montgomery/Valley Central) reunite and they were also dominant shutting down their Blue Devil rival on route to an 8-3 win.
With an almost insurmountable 3-0 lead after the doubles play the SUNY Fredonia Blue Devils could only muster two competition points as the Red Dragons won four and clinched the dual match victory. Sophomore
Julieta Eulau (Oceanside/Oceanside) playing only singles today at the number one flight lost just two-games turning back the Fredonia opponent easily. Eulau when she completed her match that proved to be the dual match clincher for the Red Dragons. At the number two position Brault was locked in a tight first set but won in a tiebreaker 7-6 (8-6). The second set Brault found her groove hitting more confidently and was victorious 6-2. Lipscomb once again continues her unbeaten streak in the fall seasons of 2017 and 18 was just overpowering in finishing off her opponent in less than an hour with a 6-1, 6-2 triumph. The sixth singles players Carswell had little push back from the Fredonia combatant getting across the finish-line with an impressive 6-1, 6-0 drubbing.
With one more victory the Red Dragons will secure themselves a playoff berth in next week's SUNYAC Championships. However, Oneonta must prepare for SUNY Brockport with a match against the Golden Eagles on Saturday, October 6
th beginning at 4 PM in the Binghamton Tennis Center, Binghamton, NY.