SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off strong fall season, expectations for the Bryant University women's tennis team have never been higher as it opens spring competition over the weekend vs. UConn.
In 2013-14, the Bulldogs earned the No. 3 overall seed at the Northeast Conference Championships, advancing to the semifinals for the first time in program history. Without missing a beat, the Black and Gold returned to action this fall looking as strong as ever with program-best showings at multiple tournaments.
"If the fall is any indication of what we are capable of doing, then we are really looking forward to spring season," said head coach Barbara Cilli who enters her 15th season at the helm of the Bryant women's tennis program. "This fall, we advanced to second round of ITAs, in both singles and doubles, and had huge wins over teams we've never beaten before at individual spots at the Army and Stony Brook Invitationals."
At ITA Regionals in October, sophomore captain Ryan Brown (Austin, Texas) took down Adina Unguerean-Halagian (Saint Peter's) in the first round of the main singles draw to earn Bryant's first-ever singles victory at ITAs. In doubles competition, Brown and partner Marion Bouillin (San Diego, Calif.) picked up an opening round win in the main doubles draw for the second-straight year, defeating UConn's Srna Stosljevic and Maxene Weinberg.
The Black and Gold will rely heavily upon Brown and Bouillin to hold down the top of the lineup, as well as senior captain Rosie Bird (Hamilton, New Zealand) who will see her first official action of the year on Saturday after another strong field hockey season during the fall. However, a strong crop of freshman are sure to make their mark on an already solid lineup.
"We had two big recruiting classes back-to-back and our lineup looks stronger than last year," added Cilli. "There is a lot of competition for spots so that's keeping the girls hungry to earn their place."
Highlighting that freshman class are September NEC Rookie of the Month Ashanti Campfield (Stratford, Conn.), Linnea Sjoberg (Stockholms län, Sweeden), Nina Luiggi (Nottingham, England), and Stefanie Arroyo (Gurabo, Puerto Rico).
Not to be overlook, sophomore Briana Leonard (Westford, Mass.) put together a solid fall campaign in her own right, going 4-2 overall in singles play, including 2-0 in dual matches at the No. 4 spot. Additionally, senior Devlin-Ann Ammendola (Massapequa, N.Y.) will add some much-needed depth and leadership along the Bulldog lineup in both singles and doubles competition.
"Last year's advancement to the NEC Semifinals only left us wanting more," noted Cilli. "So we are pushing each player this year to do more; more is expected from everyone at every position in all phases of our training. We are working hard in the gym and on the courts so the rest will just have to play itself out."
Bryant begins its quest to capture its first NEC Championship on Saturday when they face off with UConn in East Hartford, Conn.
