The New York University women's tennis team won its spring opener, defeating Wellesley College 5-4 on Saturday, February 24, at the Stadium Tennis Center in the Bronx, NY.

The doubles matches were competitive, but the Violets were victorious in two of the three to take an early lead. Dakota Fordham and Isabella Hartman won their #1 match 8-7 and Jimena Menendez and Molly Heber triumphed in their #2 by an 8-3 score.

Menendez and Fordham continued their dominance in singles play, as each recorded a win. Menendez secured a 6-2, 7-6 victory in her #1 contest as did Fordham at #2 with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph.

NYU's Ksenia Goel was the only other Violet to win at singles, recording a 6-4, 6-4 victory at #5. Wellesley won matches #3, 4, and 6, but it would not be enough as the Violets emerged victorious.

Newly hired assistant coach Sophia Strickland made her match debut with the Violets.

"I was really happy to get the win, but it was definitely a little more nerve-wracking being on the coaching side of things," said Strickland, who played for the John Hopkins University tennis team as an undergraduate (2016-2021). "The girls holding their nerve and succeeding in very tight situations helped put us over the top."

The Violets will return to the Stadium Tennis Center at 1 pm on Saturday, March 2, to host RIT.