Shannon Sertz

Qingyue Li

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The College of Wooster women's tennis team defeated Kalamazoo College 5-4 on Saturday to improve to 4-2 in the early goings of the spring season.

Wooster won five of the first seven matches, which was enough to earn the victory before the No. 5 and No. 6 singles matches even hit the court.

In doubles play, the No. 1 team of Qingyue Li and Ishika Gupta finished first, but they were downed 8-3 by Laura Hanselman and Sophie Zhuang.

Wooster then tied it up after Shannon Sertz and Laura Haley won at the No. 2 flight 8-4. The first-year duo of Kathryn Materick and Abby Kushner Benson then gave Wooster a 2-1 lead after winning at the No. 3 slot 8-3. 

Li rebounded in singles play, giving Wooster its third win of the match at No. 1 singles 6-2, 6-4. However, Kalamazoo responded with a win at No. 4 as Materick fell to Ella Knight 6-4, 6-1.

Next, Sertz, after a tough first set, won at No. 3 singles to give Wooster its fourth win, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2. Gupta then wrapped the win up at the No. 2 flight with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Maddy Winarski.

Kalamazoo ended up taking the final two matches. Haley fell at No. 5 singles 6-4, 6-4, and Kushner Benson lost 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 6 flight.

Wooster returns to action when they host Denison University at the Aspen Racquet Club on Friday.