Image Credits: Scott Rowan
The West Chester University men’s and women’s tennis teams continued to stack results last week, each picking up wins at Millersville University while showing signs of progress as the season moves forward. Much like other Golden Rams teams this year, both squads have had their ups and downs, but recent performances suggest that things may be starting to come together at the right time.
The men’s team secured a solid win on Wednesday, fueled by a strong showing in doubles play that set the tone early. The duo of Thomaz Joly and Juan Pablo Beirana-Guzman handled business with a 6-3 win, while Ashton Bunch and Zack Bull followed that up with another 6-3 victory. Getting out to that early lead proved to be crucial, as it gave the Rams control of the match before singles even began.
From there, West Chester carried that momentum into singles, winning four matches to seal the victory. Bunch, Alessandro Melotti, Joly and Beirana-Guzman each picked up wins, continuing to establish themselves as reliable contributors in the lineup. It was the type of balanced performance that the Golden Rams have been searching for all season, where both doubles and singles play come together in one complete effort.
The overall results for the men’s team tell a story of inconsistency, currently sitting at 3-4 on the year. There have been some tough losses, including 0-7 defeats against St. Thomas Aquinas College, Eckerd College and Case Western Reserve University, along with a 1-6 loss to Washington College. At the same time, the Golden Rams have shown what they are capable of with convincing 5-2 wins over Hampden-Sydney College and Penn State Harrisburg. When everything clicks, this team can compete, but finding that consistency will be the key moving forward.
Looking ahead, the men will travel to Chestnut Hill College on March 31, where they will look to build off this win and continue trending in the right direction.
On the women’s side, the Golden Rams picked up a win of their own on Tuesday, March 24, also at Millersville, continuing what has been a much more consistent season overall. West Chester once again got things started in doubles, taking two matches behind strong performances from Ashleigh Grooms and Alex Cave, along with the pairing of Sohana Thompson and Felicia Manful.
That early success translated into singles, where the Golden Rams secured three wins to close out the match. Thompson, Delaney Tingle, and Cave each earned victories, continuing to be key pieces in a lineup that has produced results throughout the season. It was another example of this team’s ability to execute in both doubles and singles, something that has defined their success so far.
Sitting at 6-4 on the year, the women’s team has consistently found ways to win close matches. They have earned multiple 4-3 victories against teams like Chestnut Hill, Bryn Mawr College, St. Thomas Aquinas College and Winona State University, showing their ability to come through in tight situations. Even in their losses, including matches against Eckerd College, Slippery Rock University, Wilmington and Kutztown, the Golden Rams have remained competitive and continued to grow.
They will return home on April 2 for a matchup against Bloomsburg, who enters with a strong 7-3 record. It will be another test for a team that has already proven it can compete in close matches and find ways to come out on top.
As both teams continue their seasons, the formula is becoming clear. For the men, it is about finding consistency and putting together complete matches like they did against Millersville. For the women, it is about maintaining the level of play that has already led to a winning record. If both teams can continue in that direction, there is plenty of reason to expect more success as the season progresses.
Andrew Cappello is a second year Secondary Education major