The Oberlin College men’s and women’s tennis teams made the first hits of their spring 2005 season forceful and accurate. Last Saturday, the two teams lined up against Malone College; the men swung through with a decisive 6-1 victory while the women slammed in a 9-0 win.

After impressing fans with their successful season opener, the Yeowomen laid on excess evidence on Wednesday with another 9-0 win against Ashland University.

Junior Mark Knee won the number two singles for the men on Saturday 6-3, 7-5, while he and junior Nick Ogren combined to win the number one doubles 9-8(4). Oberlin swept every other match except for Ogren’s number one singles.

“It wasn’t anything we didn’t expect,” said first-year Ezra Goldman. “We’re definitely going to have a winning season.” Goldman also encouraged Oberlin students to support the team at their weekend matches.

First-year Colin Burling, who was not competing because of injury and sickness, did comment that, “We could’ve won it more handily. I think it might’ve been first match nerves.”

“Still, a 6-1 victory is validating,” first-year Henry Schneider pointed out.

Schneider, a “living/breathing/not-sleeping-until-I’ve-seen-some” tennis fan, emphasized first-year Chris Pray’s win (6-0, 6-0) as exemplary.

“Chris Pray’s merciless defeat set the example for the landslide victory over the amateur club Malone.” He added, “Surely in this match Pray became predator,” and proceeded to gloat over his wit for hours.

The women, though lacking equally articulate fans, compensated with more impressive margins. On Saturday, first-year Kimiko Glynn and senior Ary Amerikaner won the top two singles with scores of 6-0, 6-0 each. “Kimi was on fire,” said her teammate first-year Kate Ogren. She added that the stellar first-year is a lot of fun on and off the court. “She has a lot of energy.”

Amerikaner was also equally dominant on Wednesday as she recorded another shutout singles victory and then combined with senior Jessica Hauser for an 8-3 doubles win. Hauser also provided an excited spark to her teammates. “My favorite part of the match was [when I came back] after a seminar and watching Jessica Hauser win her match in three sets,” said sophomore Bianca Barr.

If Oberlin sports’ fans unaccustomed to such dominance are alarmed and hesitant to support a team that wins so easily and often, they need not worry. The teams host Otterbein College this Saturday.