The recent triumph of the women's tennis team over Colby was only the latest in a string of victories that combined to make Bowdoin history. After beating Tufts on Friday and the Mules on Wednesday, not only are the Polar Bears undefeated this season, but they have also broken their previous record of 13 wins, a record last set in the 2002-2003 season.
The tone of Wednesday's 8-1 victory over the Mules was set with Bowdoin's impressive sweep of all six singles matches. Kristen Raymond '08 defeated Colby's Tracy Nale 6-0, 6-4, and co-captain Kelsey Hughes '07 defeated Ginny Raho 6-0, 6-0. Co-captain Christine D'Elia '07 bested Nicole Veilleux with final scores of 6-2 and 6-1, while Sarah D'Elia '09 was successful in a close match with Colby's Allison Dunn with final scores totaling 7-5 and 6-4. Brett Davis '10 and Rachel Waldman '09 defeated Julie Achenbaum and Audrey Jacobsen, respectively, in pro sets with decisive 8-0 scores.
The doubles matches were closer, but Bowdoin still emerged victorious. Davis and Waldman led the Bears with an 8-0 conquest over Colby's Achenbaum and Jacobsen. Closely following them were Bowdoin's Hughes and the older D'Elia, who defeated Colby doubles Raho and Veilleux 8-3. Raymond and the younger D'Elia, however, lost in a tight set against Dunn and Nale, with Colby winning 9-8.
The women's home match against Tufts on Friday resulted in a 7-2 victory, consolidated by a doubles sweep by partners Sarah D'Elia and Raymond, Hughes and Christine D'Elia, and Davis and Waldman. Although the singles matches started on a less optimistic note, with Sarah D'Elia sitting out due to illness, teammates Hughes, Christine D'Elia, Davis, and Waldman stepped up to secure the 13th Polar Bear victory of the season.
During the 2001-2005 seasons, the women's tennis team contended in the NCAA Regionals; last year's 2006 season saw the squad make its way to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. Armed with the year's dedicated and talented Polar Bears, as well as with a so-far undefeated record and a Division III No. 7 national ranking, the team's chances of bettering last year's accomplishment are strong.
The women will play ninth-ranked Middlebury on Saturday and fourth-ranked Amherst on Sunday. Both games are in Brunswick.