Over spring break, several SNHU sports teams escaped the cold of New England by traveling to Florida for a week of tournament competition. These teams included women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, softball and baseball.
Men’s tennis played March 11-12 against Flagler and Palm Beach Atlantic.
Juniors Willem van Biezen and Bas van Biezen won their doubles set against Flagler 6-3 and forced a tie point against Palm Beach. Tiago Fernandez (Gr.), who ranked 48 in the NCAA Division II, won his singles set against Palm Beach. This sent him to the finals round where he prevailed with a score of 10-6.
Women’s tennis team played Flagler and Robert Wesleyan on March 11 and 16.
Loir Pachuorkovski (’22) swept her sets against both Flagler and Robert Wesleyan, winning 6-1 in round one and 6-0 in round two. Seniors Sofia Morais and Anna Sala also won their sets, with Morais finishing 6-3 and 6-0, and Sala finishing both rounds 6-2.
Alexxa Etienne (’22) and Rachel Wagner (’19) dominated their doubles set against Robert Wesleyan 6-0. Overall, the team lost to Flagler but defeated Robert Wesleyan 7-0.
From March 13-15, Women’s golf played in the Pinehurst Tournament.
Freshman Hannah May placed 20 in the tournament, with a plus 39 par. Kaylie Coleman (’19) played as an individual and finished 29 with a plus 50 par.
The nationally-ranked softball team won nine of 12 games from March 9-16.
Pitcher Maddy Barone (20) was named Louisville Slugger, NFCA National Pitcher of the Week and NE10 Pitcher of the Week for the trip. Barone, who went 6-0, struck out 37 batters. Erin Graczynski (19) was named NE10 Player of the Week while in Florida. Graczynski hit in six doubles and one home run over the course of 12 games played.
Coach Deb Robitaille said that she is satisfied with the results of the week and the team’s constant improvement.
“Our confidence just kept building through each game, and this has carried over into our first games in the North East,” Robitaille said.
The number 7 ranked baseball team opened their week with a 17-4 win. They went on to win six of the eight games played from March 10-16.
Jake Walkinshaw (Gr.) was awarded his third NE10 Pitcher of the Week and went 2-0 in two starts. Walkinshaw struck out 26 batters and allowed only one run in all 16 innings. Joshua Goldstein (20) owned a four-game hitting streak through the week. Graduate Student Cameron Scotia earned his first career victory by holding American International College to a .182 batting average.
It was an undoubtedly thrilling week for these athletes. They all brought their penmen pride down south and proved they’re teams are forces to be reckoned with.
