NEWPORT, R.I. - No. 3 seed Salve Regina University women's tennis swept the first five matches against No. 6 seed Curry College in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference quarterfinal match at Newport today. The victory advances the Seahawks to a semifinal match at No. 2 Roger Williams on Wednesday, October 20 (2 p.m.).
Salve Regina (10-2; 9-2 TCCC) had dealt a 9-0 defeat to Curry in the regular season on September 12, but Seahawk head coach Ed Habershaw warned his players the Colonels were not to be taken lightly.
"We had a couple of 9-0 scores against really good teams this year, but those could have very easily been different outcomes," said Habershaw. "Today, our success in doubles was critical. Each of the three matches was tight, but getting the sweep allowed a little more breathing room for our singles players."
First-team all-conference doubles performers Ana Gwozdz [Taunton, Mass.] and Erin Phillips [Morristown, N.J.] built a 7-2 advantage at No. 1 doubles before hanging on for an 8-5 win. The league's senior scholar athlete, Elise Jones [Pittsfield, Mass.], paired with freshman Jessica Moore [Middletown, R.I.] for an 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles.
"The Jones/Moore doubles match went back-and-forth before we took a healthy 6-3 lead," said Habershaw. "Curry didn't stop however and broke our serve before holding its own to make the score 7-6 in our favor. Thankfully, Elise put together a solid service game and she and Jess got to work at the net for a big point."
Second-team all-conference doubles performers Valerie Leso [West Warwick, R.I.] and Nichols Stevens [Chester, Conn.] trailed 5-2 in their match at No. 2 doubles, but the senior partner said her confidence never wavered.
"I felt we were in control of that match even when we were down three games to none," said Leso.
Leso and Stevens rallied to take an 8-7 lead but needed a tiebreak to decide the match. The Seahawk pair won the first four points of the tiebreak and split the remaining six for a 7-3 score. The win gave Salve Regina three points heading into singles where the Seahawks won the first set of all six matches.
Sophomore Karlee Walther [Natick, Mass.] put the fourth point on the board with a 6-1,6-0 win at No. 6 singles and was followed by Moore with the clinching victory (6-1,6-2) at No. 4 singles.
Curry (9-7; 6-5 TCCC) returns to action with The Commonwealth Coast Conference Coach of the Year, Rich Murray, when the Colonels compete in the New England Women's Invitational Tennis Tournament. Salve Regina will also participate in NEWITT this weekend at Amherst, Mt. Holyoke, and Smith Colleges, before its semifinal date in Bristol next Wednesday. Roger Williams gave the Seahawks one of their two losses (6-3) back on September 21.
