By Gigi Speer

Across the Hudson in Newark, Fordham Women’s Tennis had a close match against New Jersey Institute of Technology on Friday, losing 4-3. The team is looking forward to conference play against Seton Hall at home next Friday, and NJIT was a staunch competitor and good preparation for the upcoming Atlantic 10 play.

Freshmen third doubles duo Genevieve Quenville and Nicole Li won the only doubles victory for the Rams, besting Shamika Dhar and Adara Omar 6-4.

Li commented on her doubles performance, “We played a good doubles match. I’m really glad that we were able to use strategies that we have been working on during practices, and I can believe how effective it was.”

In first singles, sophomore Arina Taluyenko lost to Joleta Budiman 6-3 in the first set, but came back to win the next two 7-5 and 6-1. In third singles, junior Maia Balce won 6-3, 7-5; in fourth singles, Quenville beat Dhar 7-5, 6-3; and in fifth singles, Li won the first set against Mayar Eltony 6-2, but lost the next two sets 6-3, 6-4.

Li recognized her opponent’s change in strategy, “In singles, everything went so well in the first set, but I quickly lost my dominance and aggressiveness when my opponent changed her strategy to start moon-balling me and attacking my backhand.”

However, the freshman was still optimistic about the match.

“Even though I lost and it wasn’t the best match I’ve played, I never gave up coming back in the third set and I’m happy about the way I fought until the end,” she said.

The Rams’ next match is at the Cary Leeds Tennis Center this Friday, Feb. 15 at 12:00 p.m as they take on Seton Hall.