The Chargers women’s tennis team dominated the Franklin Pierce Ravens, 7-0, in their opening match last week. With a strong team performance from the start, there were a total of nine matches, three doubles, and six singles, in which the Chargers shut out the Ravens.

Junior Valentinna Ferrarini said the team has high expectations they can bring home the conference title and they have been practicing hard to arrive with the confidence they had during their match.

“Yesterday was a great win against a strong team that made us all believe that it is possible to fight for the title,” said Ferrarini. “I am personally super happy with this team, and I believe that every single girl will make the difference.”

The first pair of doubles included Ferrarini and senior Karim Carreras, who won their match, 6-3. Then came freshman Victoria Togores and senior Risako Umekuni. With a closer game on the line, the pair won their match 6-4 and secured the win for New Haven. In the final doubles match, new faces to the blue and gold, freshmen Leni Bischof and Laura Ortner finished their match, 6-2, over the Ravens.

In the singles matches, New Haven had an all-around victory. Ferrarini secured the first singles win against Franklin Pierce’s Aynara Ferraz. In the first set, Ferrarini won 6-4 and then shut out the second set winning 6-0.

Competing in the second singles match, Carreras won the first set, 7-5, and the second,6-0, and added another win for the Chargers. In the third singles, Umekuni won the first set, 6-3, and finished the second set with a score of 6-2.

In the fourth singles, Togores went against Franklin Pierce’s Maria Paz Diaz, nearly sweeping the match. Togores shut out the first set, 6-0, and finished the second set, 6-1. Ortner secured another point for New Haven in the fifth singles as she won the first set 7-5 and finished the match, 6-2, in the second.

Returning sophomore Agustina Rivera played the final singles match against the Raven’s Ana Munoz, won the first set 6-2, and finished the final set of the day 6-2.

“As the season progresses, I hope that we keep the good attitude and the energy to keep fighting,” said Ferrarini. “As it evolves, we will gain rhythm and timing that will help all of us to play even better.”

New Haven’s win over Franklin Pierce leaves them at a 1-0 record overall and in conference play for the 2024-25 season. The Chargers will take the court again on Wednesday as they travel to Molloy University to take on the Lions. The first serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Hempstead Lake State Park. For more information, please visit NewHavenChargers.com.