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BY DARCY NELSON

In print | Published April 29, 2004

Anjani Reddy ’04 has made her final mark in conference athletic books. For the third time in four years, the senior tennis player stole the show at conference championships and came out on top with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Amy Schmidt of Muhlenberg.

Reddy did not compete in the the championships last year because she had to miss the tournament to take medical school entrance exams. Still, every year she participated in the tournament, she came in first in the conference in singles play.

“Winning this tournament was really special this year because of all the support I have had throughout the season,” Reddy said. “Teammates, friends, classmates, family and professors have voiced encouragement and enthusiasm. That has made this conference tournament even more memorable.”

Reddy is grateful for all the support she has had. “I really think the support we were given made a lot of difference, and I appreciate the effort that so many people have taken to come cheer and to encourage all of us,” she said. “I was really happy with the showing our girls made this tournament.”

The final singles match began on the Faulker outdoor courts on Saturday at noon. Reddy matched up against Schmidt. After an early 4-2 lead by Reddy, the beginnings of a rainstorm forced the match indoors. Schmidt earned another point to come close to tying the score, but Reddy held Schmidt scoreless for the rest of the game, finishing the job at 6-3.

The second game gave Schmidt a glimpse of hope, as she jumped ahead of Reddy 3-1. This hope began to fade as Reddy took the next three sets in a row to make the score 4-3. Reddy allowed Schmidt one more set as her backhand slipped slightly. But the determination of the three-time Centennial Conference player of the year was no match for Muhlenberg’s eighth-seeded Schmidt. Reddy held her serves strong until the end, nailing a crosscourt forehand into her opponent’s court to end the game, set and match. Reddy had won her third conference championship in four years.

The victory against Schmidt also marked her 49th consecutive conference win. Reddy is currently ranked 20th in the ITA national poll, fifth in the Atlantic South Region in singles, and the doubles team of Reddy and Sonya Reynolds ’07 is ranked sixth.

In the semifinals, Reddy played her teammate, Caroline Celano ’04, who was seeded fourth in the tournament.

“It was so hard to play Caroline because we are teammates and friends,” Reddy said. “It’s so difficult to look across the net at your friend as an opponent. At the same time, I think we both tried to make the most out of the situation by enjoying each other’s company and playing the best tennis possible.”

Celano had defeated Shoko Nakamura of Washington College in the quarter finals. Celano placed third in the singles tournament and is ranked 13th in the Atlantic South Region.

In doubles, Reddy and Reynolds lost 9-8 in the semifinals to the eventual doubles champions, Ne’ko Browder and Shoko Nakamura of Washington. Sara Sargent ’07 and Waverly Lutz ’07 lost in the round of 16 to Tracy Rogers and Sara Marion Siebert from Gettysburg, a team that made it to the semifinals.

“Our doubles teams came out with a lot of heart,” Reddy said. “Even though it was tough to put so much into the match and lose by so few points, we both enjoyed each others’ company and had a great time. Sonya played really well and was great about keeping our energy up and motivating both of us to play our best.”

Six weeks ago in conference play, the women’s tennis team started off with a loss to Muhlenberg, opening their season with a 0-1 record.

It was a close loss (5-4) under tough circumstances — the match was at Muhlenberg on poor courts that only the Mules were used to. Six days later, the team traveled to Ursinus, where it destroyed the Bears, 9-0.

From there on, the Garnet ruled the courts with an iron fist, never letting a team earn more than two points against them. This sweep included six shut-outs during its twelve remaining matches. Wins include an 8-1 victory over 20th-ranked University of the South and an 8-1 victory over 30th-ranked Mary Washington.

The team finished its regular season with a 9-1 record in the conference, a 14-2 record overall, a third invitation to the NCAA tournament and some outstanding achievements by Reddy.

Muhlenberg may be ranked first in the Centennial Conference with a 10-0 team record (12-4 overall), but the Mules sit at eighth place in the ITA Atlantic South Regional rankings while the Tide rides high at number three, an all-time high for Swarthmore women’s tennis.

From here, the Garnet will head into the NCAA tournament, beginning with the regional round. The Garnet has defeated Salisbury 8-1. The Tide will see this team in the first round of the tournament. If they win, they will play the winner of the Washington and Lee and Mary Washington game.

“Even if we don’t make it through, we’ve done so many new and exciting things this year that we set a strong precedent that Swarthmore women’s tennis will be a strong program for many years to come,” coach Jeremy Loomis said. “I’m very proud of this team and we are really happy to represent Swarthmore in the nationals.”

Of course, the team has their eye on winning nationals, but they are not jumping to any conclusions. “We are still taking it one match at a time,” Celano said. “We can’t go in thinking we have it in the bag.”

Still, the Tide shows no signs that it will go into the tournament timidly.

“We are really looking forward to next weekend,” Reddy said. “I think we have a great group of tough and determined girls, and I think that will make all the difference. We are going into regionals prepared and ready to win.”

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