The UConn women’s tennis team is riding high after winning their last two matches, though they have a tough test coming up. The Terriers of Boston University have lost their last two games but have proven to be a difficult matchup for the Huskies in the past. As the postseason continues to approach, this is looking like a must-win for both sides.
Matchup
While these teams may have similar records, they come into the match in very different situations. UConn is coming into this one with a respectable 7-4 record (1-2 in conference play). BU has a similar record, currently sitting just above .500 at 6-5. This might come as a surprise to some as the Terriers started off the season with a remarkable 5-1 record, with four of those wins being 7-0 sweeps. In their five matches since, BU has fallen out of form in a big way. They were swept by Charlotte and No. 49 Harvard but were able to get a much needed 4-0 win at Western Carolina. They also lost to in-state rivals Boston College and Brown, losing 5-2 in each match. They now find themselves in a tough spot, but history is on their side in this important match. UConn on the other hand, started at 4-2 and has maintained consistency throughout. They snapped their two-match skid and turned it into a winning streak, but that can only take them so far.
The last time these two faced off was March 2023, where BU came to Connecticut and won with a resounding 7-0 score line. With that win, the Terriers increased their winning streak against the Huskies to three matches. Since the 2013-14 season these squads have matched up eight times, with six of those going in favor of BU. After starting out 3-0 in BU’s favor, UConn was able to win two in a row in 2016-17 and 2017-18 to keep things close, but as previously mentioned, it’s been all Boston since 2021.
Players to Watch
Following their win against Sacred Heart on Thursday, UConn junior Isabel Petri Bere increased her overall singles win total to 18 on the year. She’s been playing well in 2024, winning her last two matches en route to an 18-7 singles record.
Right behind Petri Bere are fellow juniors Maria Constantinou and Olivia Wright, who have 14 and 15 singles wins, respectively. They’ve been playing in the first two singles spots all season and have been stalwarts for the Huskies.
For BU, there are four Terriers who have reached double-digit wins in singles. Senior Kaitlin Tan leads the pack with 15 wins and only five losses. Senior Victoria Carlsten and junior Michelle Kleynerman both have 12 wins and freshman Uma Bakaityte has 10. The Terriers have a solid singles rotation with varying experience levels and have proven to be a tough matchup for the Huskies in years prior.