TENNIS: Bulldogs dominate Fordham Invitational

The Bulldogs return from Fordham Invitational with two champions in singles play.

Brody Gilkison

10:32 pm, Oct 07, 2024

Yale Athletics

The Yale Women’s Tennis team traveled to New York this past weekend to play in the Fordham Invitational against Fordham, Providence College, Army, Saint John’s, Hofstra, Stony Brook, Stonehill and Fairleigh Dickinson. 

On the first day of the tournament, the Bulldogs went three for three on the singles side. In her draw, Julia Werdiger ’28 won her quarterfinal match against Mia Palladino of Stony Brook, 6–4, 6–3. Mirabelle Brettkelly ’25 breezed past Camila Barrera Aguirre of Providence, 6–2, 6–4, and Rebecca Lynn ’26 easily won her match against Madison Warren of Stonehill, 6–1, 6–2. 

“This weekend was a wonderful building experience,” Lynn wrote to the News. “I got the opportunity to implement what I’ve been working on in a match setting against strong opponents. Hopefully we can keep this same energy and mindset going as we finish out the fall and head into spring season.” 

On the doubles side, Yale had two duos in action. Brettkelly and Werdiger teamed up to defeat their opponents from Stony Brook 6–2, but Jamie Kim ’25 and Lynn fell to their opponents from Hofstra, 6–4. Kim ended up having to pull out of the tournament due to injury. 

On the second day of the tournament, the Bulldogs continued with their strong play in the semifinal round of singles. Werdiger started the successful day off by beating Nevena Kolarevic of Fordham 6–4, 4–6, 10–5. Brettkelly won her first of two matches for the day, defeating Army’s Jenna Sabile 6–3, 7–6, 7–3. Lynn also advanced to the finals of her draw after blowing past Army’s Julia Kelly 6–4, 6–3. 

In the double portion’s semifinals, Brettkelly and Werdiger picked up their second wins of the day. The duo beat Lorraine Bergman and Catalina Padilla of Fordham 7–6 (7–4) to earn their spot in the finals match. 

On the third and final day of the Fordham Invitational, Yale claimed two singles championships and all three players made the finals of their bracket. Lynn started the day off for the Bulldogs, winning her finals match by defeating Charlotta Buss of St. John’s 6–3, 7–5. 

Brettkelly also came up victorious in her finals matchup, dominating Paola Ueno Dalmonico of Farleigh Dickinson 6–3, 6–1. 

In the doubles finals, Werdiger and Brettkelly fell short against their opponents from Army, 6–4, but the weekend was still an incredibly strong showing for the Bulldogs. 

“This weekend was a great prep weekend as we head into regionals next week,” Brettkelly wrote to the News. “Competing in a singles draw format but staying united in cheering as a team and supporting each other across the courts was a great prelude for how we hope to approach next week.” 

Next week, the Bulldogs will be back in action at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association New England Regionals in Cambridge, Mass., on Oct. 11.