HAMILTON – The women's tennis team hits the courts for the first time in 2024 when it heads downstate to battle Long Island University on Saturday afternoon. Head Coach Bobby Pennington's bunch is looking for their third-straight winning season, a feat the Raiders have not achieved since 1993-1996. 

"We are very optimistic and eager to begin our women's spring season and build off our past two winning seasons," said Pennington. "The ladies had an outstanding fall and will look to carry that over to our non-conference matches as well as league play to try and get a top-four seed and advance in the tournament. I think with experience and reps they will just keep getting better and better."

The development process has already begun for the star-studded class of 2027 after a very successful fall season. Through five fall matches, the first-years accounted for nine of Colgate's 16 total wins in singles play and chipped in 14 doubles victories. Half of those wins came from the fantastic young twosome of first-year Carina Cristobal and sophomore Amelia Galin who accumulated a 7-3 record as a duo. 

First-year Sophia Montero also added four singles victories and three doubles triumphs with partner and classmate Gigi Bohan. Avery Isaac and Paige Rothwell rounded out the group of first years with two doubles wins each. 

Sophomore Sasha Herman will also play in some meaningful matches for the Raiders this spring after picking up three wins in singles play during the fall. 

Some reinforcements will be joining the squad in the spring courtesy of junior Addie Eklund. The 2023 Academic All-Patriot League selection sported a 3-2 conference record last season and compiled a 12-6 record on the third court. 

Juniors Eliza Podlas and Jordan Ben-Shmuel add some experience to the young group having played in a combined 47 matches for the Raiders through the last three seasons. 

Colgate will take the courts on Saturday at 3 p.m. when they take on Long Island University in Brookville, N.Y. The Raiders are 1-1 all-time against the Sharks, last capturing a victory in 2007 before suffering a loss in 2013.