POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. --The Bates women's tennis team made its 2025-26 debut this weekend with an appearance in the two-day Poughkeepsie Scramble, hosted by Vassar College.
"This weekend was a great step forward for us, both in terms of tennis and team chemistry," head coach Deepak Sharma said. "With so many new players, there's always a bit of a feeling-out process when you hit the road together, but I was really proud of how quickly the group jelled."
The Bobcats opened play Saturday morning vs. the host Brewers:
Doubles results include:
(#1) Iris Li / Erin McCusker (Vassar) def. Isabella Saul / Lia Swire (Bates): 6-3
(#2) Maddie Kirby / Ananya Krishnan (Vassar) def. Emelyn Harris / Grace LaFountain (Bates): 6-4
(#3) Gwendolyn Gray / Sara Lippin (Vassar) def. Avni Bakre / Hannah Farber (Bates) : 7-6 (3)
In singles play:
(#1) McCusker def. Saul: 6-1
(#2) Sieun Lee (Vassar) def. Swire: 6-1
(#3) Krishnan def. Bakre: 6-1
(#4) Liya Pomfret (Vassar) def. Harris: 6-3
(#5) Lippin def. LaFountain: 6-0
(#6) Esme Nix (Vassar) def. Farber: 6-2
Bates followed that contest with a showdown vs. Smith College as the garnet and white proved victorious in two of the three doubles tilts.
Harris and LaFountain secured a 6-2 triumph over the tandem of Olivia Chin and Sabrina Wang at the No. 2 spot. Bakre and Farber, both first-years, followed at No. 3 with a 6-2 win vs. Tabitha Bastress and Dayana Caluna.
Saul rebounded at No. 1 singles, recording a convincing 6-1 defeat of Chin while Bakre (6-1 vs. Bastress) and Harris (6-2 vs. Caluna) locked down wins at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.
The Bobcats and Vassar would hook up once more to close out Saturday competition.
Bakre and Swire joined forces to down Vassar's Gray and Lee, 6-4, at No. 2 doubles. Harris proceeded to blank Gray, 6-0, at No. 3 singles for the first-year's third win of the day. Farber tamed Lippin, 7-6 (6), for a solid victory at No. 5.
Sunday saw Bates match up with NESCAC foe, Hamilton College.
In doubles action, Bakre and Swire picked up right where they left off with a slim 8-7 (5) edging of Priyanka Challapalli and Samantha Rainero at No. 2.
Saul solidified a strong 6-1 singles win at No. 1 vs. Challapalli while Bakre bounced Grace Qian, 6-1, at No. 3.
"Huge shout out to Avni (Bakre) for an impressive five total wins, especially taking doubles victories with two different partners, Lia (Swire) and Hannah (Farber)," Sharma noted. "That kind of versatility and team-first mindset is exactly what we love to see. As the matches went on, you could feel the trust growing, both in themselves and in each other."
"I'm proud of the grit our first-years showed this weekend. Emelyn (Harris) and Hannah earned poised singles wins over Vassar, and Lia teamed with Avni for a big doubles win against a tough Hamilton duo. It's exciting to see them making an immediate impact — the future looks bright."
Bates now looks ahead to the ITA New England Championships, Sept. 26-28 in Middlebury, Vt.
