LEWISTON, Maine -- Head Coach
Deepak Sharma is pleased to announce that the trio of
Grace LaFountain,
Isabella Saul, and
Iris Westmoreland will serve as team captains of the Bates College women's tennis program for the 2025-26 campaign.
"I'm thrilled to announce Bella, Grace, and Iris as our captains this season," Sharma said. "These three bring something special to the table, not just with their talent, but with the way they lead by example every, single day. They hold themselves and their teammates accountable, they step up without being asked, and they always put the team first. That's the heart of our culture, and it's exactly what being a Bobcat is all about. Can't wait to see how they help take us to the next level!"
LaFountain, a senior hailing from New Hartford, N.Y., is a two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and NESCAC Spring All-Academic honoree. She has earned singles and doubles victories throughout her career, highlighted by advancing to the singles round of 16 at the Wallach Invitational as a sophomore and teaming up for key doubles wins against Mount Holyoke and Endicott during the 2023–24 campaign. Grace is a dual major in physics and theater technology design.
Saul, a sociology major from Brooklyn, N.Y., is a three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and two-time NESCAC Spring All-Academic selection. The senior was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Team in 2025 and also earned NESCAC All-Sportsmanship Team honors in 2024. A consistent contributor in both singles and doubles, Saul owns key victories over nationally ranked opponents, including a three-set win at No. 2 singles to help Bates defeat No. 16 Williams in 2025. She has also teamed with multiple partners for doubles wins against programs such as Tufts, Connecticut College, and Hamilton.
Westmoreland, a two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® selection, has established herself as a mainstay at the top of the Bobcats' lineup. She owns signature singles victories over nationally ranked opponents, including a straight-sets win at No. 1 to help Bates defeat No. 16 Williams in 2025. The junior has also advanced to the round of 32 at the ITA New England Regional Championship and earned key doubles wins alongside partners such as Saul and
Olivia Gidlow '25. As a rookie, she made an immediate impact, teaming with Ally Friedman '24 to capture the doubles flight title at the Wallach Invitational. Iris, from New Orleans, La., is majoring in politics.
The Bobcats continue their fall season Sept. 26-28 with an appearance in the ITA New England Championships in Middlebury, Vt.
