Kenyon Tennis Teams Shine in Season Openers

The Kenyon women's and men's tennis teams kicked off their fall seasons with impressive performances at recent tournaments. The women's team dominated the Kenyon Invitational, while the men's team showcased their depth and talent at the Denison Invitational.

Kenyon Women's Tennis Dominates Invitational

Newcomers Lead the Way

The Kenyon women's tennis team wasted no time in making a statement, as their first-year players led the charge at the Kenyon Invitational. Bridgette Kelly '28 and Maggie Shope '28 both secured impressive victories in their collegiate debuts, with Kelly winning two singles matches and Shope following suit. The young Owls displayed poise and confidence, setting the tone for the rest of the team."I was feeling really excited before my match on Saturday," Kelly wrote in an email to the Collegian. "We had all been practicing hard the last two weeks and I felt so ready to just go out and perform what I had been working on in practice."

Doubles Dominance

The Kenyon women's tennis team's success extended beyond the singles competition, as they showcased their prowess in doubles play as well. The Owls won four out of five doubles matches on the opening day, with the pairings of Amado Aguad and Nouaime, Hudson and Brand, Kelly and Shope, and Ackerman and Carling all securing victories.The Owls continued their strong doubles performance on Sunday, winning five out of eight matches. The duos of Kelly and Hudson, as well as Ackerman and Shope, each recorded a dominant 6-0 win, while Brand and Carling, as well as Amado Aguad and Nouaime, grinded out 7-6 victories.

Overcoming Adversity

Despite facing some challenges, including injuries and illness, the Kenyon women's tennis team remained resilient and competitive throughout the weekend. Kelly acknowledged the team's ability to push through and perform well, stating, "A lot of us weren't feeling 100% this weekend between injuries and illness, but I'm super proud that everyone was able to push through and compete well."The Kenyon Invitational served as a strong start to the season for the women's team, boosting their team spirit and passion for the sport. As they look ahead to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Central Region Championship, the Owls are optimistic about the remainder of the season.

Kenyon Men's Tennis Showcases Depth at Denison Invitational

Impressive Debuts from First-Year Owls

The Kenyon men's tennis team kicked off their fall season at the Denison Invitational, where they showcased the depth and talent of their roster. The Owls combined for an impressive 11-5 record in singles play, with first-year players Juozas Cioladis '28 and Rohan Sriram '28 leading the way with a combined 6-0 record.Cioladis, in particular, was dominant in two of his three singles victories, posting multiple straight-set wins. The young duo of Cioladis and Sriram also contributed three of the Owls' four doubles victories, demonstrating their versatility and ability to excel in both singles and doubles."I'm proud of my performance since I played some challenging matches, but I was able to find ways to win by focusing on my strengths," Cioladis wrote in an email to the Collegian. "Even though tennis is such an individualized sport, having the team's support made a huge difference. This gave me some sort of insight to what college tennis is really like, and I'm excited about it."

Experienced Owls Contribute

While the first-year Owls shone, the Kenyon men's tennis team also received valuable contributions from their more experienced players. Jay Dixit '27, another newcomer to the Owls, posted a 2-1 record in singles play, while seniors Rishil Kondapaneni '25, Eric Zhang '25, and Christophe Leblanc '25 combined for three singles wins, two of which were tight three-set matches.The Owls' doubles play was not as dominant as their singles performance, with a 4-11 record. However, the pairing of Dixit and Alejandro Gonzalez '27 secured one of the team's four doubles victories.

Preparing for the ITA Central Region Championship

As the Kenyon men's tennis team looks ahead, they are focused on continuing to improve and prepare for the upcoming Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Central Region Championship. Half of the team will travel to Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, to compete in the event, while the other half will remain in Gambier to participate in the Kenyon Invitational.Cioladis emphasized the importance of the team's off-court efforts, stating, "As a team, our goal is to keep pushing ourselves, both on the court and in the weight room. If we keep doing what we are doing, we will set ourselves up for a good season."With the combination of talented newcomers and experienced veterans, the Kenyon men's tennis team is poised to make a strong statement in the upcoming tournaments and throughout the season.