By Iain Pollock
Guest Writer

Haverford’s women’s tennis team started off its 2000 campaign in grand style. After defeating Morgan State University at home, the Fords headed for the warmer climate of sunny Florida. All of the Fords played well with sophomore standout and #1 Alyssa Kennedy especially impressive during the trip, losing only one singles match.

The Fords began the trip with a tough loss against Wittenberg on March 6th. In singles play, Kennedy (6-4, 6-3), senior #4 Sarah Hanck (6-4, 7-6), senior #5 Kaley Klanica (6-2, 6-2) and frosh #6 Swapna Deshpande (6-2, 6-0) all notched wins. Despite strong singles play, the Fords dropped all three doubles matches and ended up losing the dual match 4-5.

The squad came back strong the next day in a match against University of St. Francis (Ill.) Kennedy (6-3, 6-0), sophomore #2 Joanna Grayer (6-1, 6-2), Hanck (6-4, 6-1) and Klanica (6-1, 6-2) won to continue the Fords excellent singles play. Doubles play was much improved with #1 Kennedy-Grayer (8-3) and #2 Hanck-Klanica (8-6) notching wins to seal the Fords’ 6-3 overall win.

Continuing their rigorous schedule of games, the Fords traveled to Orange Lake on March 8th, playing against King’s (Pa.) in their most superb match of the trip. Every Ford won her match in both singles and doubles play on the way to the rare 9-0 sweep. Sophomore #3 Taleen Vartan recorded her first win of the year. In their first action of the year the #3 doubles team of sophs Tara Jordan and Whitney Clendenin dispatched their opponents, 8-3.

In the final match of the trip on March 10 the Fords squeaked out a victory against William Jewell (Mo.), Number 4 Klanica (6-1, 6-3), #5 Deshpande (6-0, 6-0) and #6 Jordan (6-3, 6-4) all disposed of their singles opponents to tie the match at 3-3. In doubles play, #1 Kennedy/Vartan (8-6) and #2 Hanck/Klanica (9-7) won to guarantee the Fords a 5-4

victory. The victory concluded a highly successful 3-1 Florida tour for Haverford.

The Fords also had the pleasure of spending four action packed hours at Nick Bolletteri’s Sports Academy. The team and parents were guided on a tour by Robert Davis, executive administrator of the academy. The players were drilled by Julia Mows, who also set up practice matches of 8-game pro sets. Alyssa Kennedy performed admirably in the practice session by performing all tasks above 90 percent. On the whole, it was a great day for the Fords.