HANOVER, NH & WEYMOUTH, MA – Army West Point women’s tennis didn’t open the 2026 spring slate the way it wanted on paper, dropping road matches to Dartmouth and Boston College (both 5–2). But if you’re looking for the real takeaway from opening weekend, it’s not the final score — it’s the volume.
With the roster split between Hanover, New Hampshire, and Weymouth, Massachusetts, the Black Knights squeezed 18 individual matches into two days. That’s not a consolation prize. That’s a deliberate early-season choice: get live reps, test combinations, and find out what holds up when the points are real.
And the Black Knights of Army did find some things.
Army Won Doubles Matches — But Not the Doubles Point
The most telling theme across both sites was this: Army proved it can win in doubles, but it didn’t win enough of the doubles to take control of either match.
At Dartmouth, Madison Smith and Stacey Samonte delivered the highlight, winning at No. 1 doubles in a tight tiebreak (7–6, 8–6). In Massachusetts, Emily Ruckno and Olivia Mellynchuk picked up a strong No. 2 doubles win over Boston College (6–3).
Those are real building blocks.
But the doubles point is a math problem, not a vibes check. You need two.
Army left the weekend with proof it can compete early in matches — and a reminder that the margin in college tennis is often decided before singles even starts.
Black Knights News:
- Army Survives Scare in D.C., Outlasts American 63-56
- Army Outlasts Robert Morris in Overtime To Earn Extra Point
- Army’s Brigid Duffy Makes History with U.S. Women’s National Lacrosse Team Selection
Smith and Samonte Set the Competitive Standard
If you want the clearest snapshot of what Army can be this spring, start with the players who didn’t blink.
Smith — coming off a Patriot League individual doubles title in the fall (with Isabella Brilliant) — backed up her resume with production. She and Samonte won at No. 1 doubles against Dartmouth, and both players added singles points.
Smith’s singles win at No. 1 was the kind that matters in January: a three-set grind (3–6, 7–5, 10–8) that tests conditioning, composure, and belief.
Samonte’s response was even more clinical: a 6–0, 6–2 sweep at No. 4.
That’s leadership, whether it’s labeled that way or not.
Boston College Match: Singles Fight, Depth Test
Against Boston College, Army’s singles results showed the team’s fight — and the reality of depth in early season.
- Emma Sy earned a straight-sets win at No. 2 (6–3, 6–2).
- Emily Ruckno delivered the comeback of the weekend at No. 3, turning a 2–6 first set into a tiebreak win (7–6) and taking the match in the super tiebreak (10–7).
Ruckno also doubled up with a doubles win alongside Mellynchuk, which matters when you’re trying to establish reliable pairings.
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Early mornings. Long travel days. Tight matches that come down to a few points.
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The Quiet Win: Debuts and Development
A weekend like this is also about who gets on the court for the first time — and what the staff learns from it.
Army saw career team match debuts from:
- Sarah Yan
- Lillian Zhang
- Olivia Mellynchuk
That’s not just a note for the recap. That’s roster development in real time.
Young players don’t become dependable in April because they were protected in January. They become dependable because they’ve already been tested — on the road, against strong programs, with teammates counting on them.
What Needs to Improve (And It’s Fixable)
If Army wants to turn close moments into match wins, the path is pretty clear:
- Convert doubles momentum into the doubles point (win two lines, not one)
- Get more first-set pressure in singles to avoid chasing matches
- Build a deeper “two-win” formula, so the team isn’t relying on the same spots every weekend
None of that requires reinvention. It requires repetition and clarity.
Next Up: Home Courts, Home Standards
Army now returns to the Lichtenberg Tennis Center for its spring home-opening weekend, hosting Sacred Heart, St. Bonaventure, and Villanova.
That’s where opening weekend becomes useful.
Because the early losses don’t define a season — but what you do with the film, the pairings, and the pressure points absolutely can.
Army didn’t get the results it wanted at Dartmouth or Boston College.
But it did get something every team needs in January:
A baseline.
And now the Black Knights get the chance to raise it.
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See you at the next match.
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