The Massachusetts women’s tennis team came into its inaugural season in the Mid-American Conference with a single goal: to deliver Amherst a championship. On Sunday, the Minutewomen (16-4, 7-1 MAC) took a huge step towards that objective, emphatically beating the second-ranked Buffalo team 6-1 to clinch the MAC’s regular season title.
With doubles play deadlocked, UMass seized control at the top spot as Ella Faessler and Renata Farima delivered a clutch extra-set victory to secure the doubles point and kill the Bulls’ (19-6, 6-2 MAC) confidence. Their win broke a 1-1 tie in doubles and set the tone for the commanding singles performances that followed.
Faessler and Farima’s poise in the deciding moments proved pivotal. After giving up an early lead, the duo was pushed into a final-set tiebreak to decide the doubles point.
With their backs against the wall, the senior duo dominated. In one rally, Faessler rifled several returns to put pressure on Buffalo, allowing Farima to put away a volley. The Minutewomen harnessed that energy toward a 10-3 win in one of the season’s most important moments.
In singles, UMass secured the decisive point early and never looked back, winning five of six matches in a dominant showing. The Minutewomen’s depth proved overwhelming, with straight-set victories at the top three singles spots setting the tone for the championship-clinching win.
Farima battled through the most dramatic match of the day at court five. The senior outlasted Liv Roestel 6-3, 2-6, 11-9 in a match tiebreaker that drew loud reactions from the home bench.
In the deciding tiebreak, Farima forced a short return and stepped into a forehand winner before sealing the point with a deep crosscourt shot that Roestel could not handle, punctuating UMass’ resilience in tight moments.
The win was Farima’s eighth straight, capping off a stellar final season for the Moldova native.
The Minutewomen seized momentum behind standout performances from Faessler, Amelia Tye and Martina Pavissich, each delivering commanding straight-set wins. Faessler set the pace at court one singles, dismantling the Bulls’ Esmee Andresen 6-2, 6-1 in a match that showcased her aggressive baseline control and ability to dictate rallies.
A critical point came on a blistering forehand winner down the line from Faessler, capping a game in which she forced consecutive errors to break serve, a sequence emblematic of UMass’ assertiveness throughout the afternoon.
The Minutewomen extended their lead as Tye followed with a 6-4, 6-4 win at court two singles, displaying consistency in long rallies and clutch serving under pressure. Pavissich then delivered another pivotal point with a 6-1, 6-4 victory, using sharp angles and net play to keep Buffalo’s Maria Glowacka on her heels.
UMass received a boost from freshman Duru Baycan, who earned a 6-2, 6-3 win. The Turkey native showcased athleticism and explosive returns in a role likely to be expanded next season.
The Bulls’ lone point came at court four, where Sarah Hartel rallied past Fiona Ao in three sets, 6-4, 0-6, 6-3.
With the victory, the Minutewomen not only ended their regular season on a high note, but also demonstrated the balance and firepower that could make them a formidable contender in postseason play. They alternated between dominant straight-set wins and gritty three-set battles, highlighting both their top-end talent and lineup depth.
As they secured their final point, UMass players gathered at center court in celebration, a fitting end to a regular season defined by steady improvement and decisive performances when it mattered most.
With the regular season title secured, the Minutewomen will now look to the MAC tournament in Oxford, OH, on April 25. The matchups are yet to be announced, but it is likely UMass will have to once again take down the Bulls en route to the conference tournament title.
Coleman Smith-Rakoff can be reached at [email protected].
