By Joel Jackson
Staff Writer
The St. Bonaventure women’s tennis team has faced plenty of adversity so far this season.
The biggest challenge for the Brown and White has been not having enough players to compete in matches. Injuries have depleted the team’s already limited roster, junior Marissa Brossard said.
“(Our problem is) not having enough girls.” Brossard said on the challenging season. “With girls getting injured and such, we have struggled with having a full roster all year.”
The team currently sits at 4-8. However, the squad has earned wins just twice in the past six weeks to go along with five losses and two cancelled matches. Brossard says even through the struggles, she believes the team has played well.
“I think considering the amount if players we’ve had, we have had a pretty good season,” she said. “Everyone has fought well and is improving.”
Brossard says the team will continue playing hard and trying to improve throughout the rest of the season.
“(Our goal is) to continue to work hard and do our best in the remaining matches we have,” Broussard said.
Although there are at least seven more matches scheduled for the season, the team has one eye on next season. The Bonnies are looking forward to getting better during this season and hoping to add some reinforcements next year.
“(We want to) keep practicing and hopefully, get a few additional girls for next season,” Brossard said.
St. Bonaventure has matches at Navy and Loyola (Md.) this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
The men’s tennis team (3-13) has also struggled mightily so far this spring. The team dropped its 10th match in a 12-game stretch Saturday with a 6-1 loss to Saint Joseph’s. The Hawks took five of six singles matches and two of three doubles matches. Senior Elliot Fanshel earned the Bonnies’ only singles win.
The Bonnies snapped the losing streak later that day as they defeated Roberts Wesleyan 4-3. The Bonnies dominated the doubles portion of the event, winning two of three matches. The duo of sophomore Eduardo Irizarry and junior Javier Ortiz earned an 8-4 victory, junior Trevor Haskell and freshman Timothy DeSanto won 8-1 and Fanshel and sophomore Celso de Vera Rehberger struck an 8-4 victory.
The team will look to sustain this success as it travels to Chicago on Sunday for a matchup against Loyola. The matches are set to begin at 10 a.m.
