NEWPORT, R.I. - With an intrastate rivalry resuming for the first time since 2006, Salve Regina University women's tennis defeated Rhode Island College, 8-1, today in Newport. The Anchorwomen (0-6) have completed their set of matches against the three other Division III institutions in Rhode Island, while the Seahawks are just getting started - Roger Williams on Friday and Johnson & Wales on Monday.
Salve Regina evens its overall record at 2-2 on the season while improving its series record with Rhode Island College to 14-10. The Seahawks have won the last three meetings in the series which started in 1983.
None of the players on the current squads were representing their institutions five years ago, so rivalry may be an overstatement. But today did produce three great singles battles each decided by a third-set, 10-point tiebreak.
The Seahawks swept the three doubles matches starting with an 8-1 win at third doubles from sophomore Annie Mallin (Fairfield, Conn.) and freshman Erica Shay (Concord, Mass.). At second doubles, the "O" team posted its first victory of the season as Shannon O'Brien (Gorham, Maine) and Megan Olson (Colchester, Vt.) took an 8-3 decision. First doubles finished last as co-captains Ana Gwozdz (Taunton, Mass.) and Nichol Stevens (Chester, Conn.) won 8-5 over senior Gabriela Batek (Greenville, R.I.) and freshman Chelsea Brown (Wallingford, Conn.).
Seahawk sophomore Elizabeth Liguori (Westerly, R.I.) did not drop a game at fifth singles to give Salve Regina a 4-0 lead. Shay clinched the match with her third successive win at sixth singles. O'Brien added the sixth point with a straight-set win at fourth singles.
The top three singles matches all went in the Anchorwomen's favor for the first set. Brown posted a 6-0 score over Stevens at first singles while Doris Belanger (West Warwick, R.I.) won her first set, 6-4, at third singles over Gwozdz. Both matches were deep into their second sets before Batek rallied for a 7-6(8-6) first set win at second singles over Salve Regina freshman Elizabeth DiFilippo (West Chester, Pa.).
Stevens, a senior, re-grouped with a variety of shots and pulled out a 6-1 second-set win. In the 10-point tiebreak, Brown won three straight points to take a 5-4 lead, but Stevens won the final six points of the match.
Gwozdz, who specialized in third-set tiebreaks last year as a freshman, erased two match points against while serving at 2-5 in the second set. Her calmness and confidence carried her to win five straight games and force a third set. Meanwhile, DiFilippo blanked Batek in the second set at second singles and forced a third set as well.
Batek relied on her ability to produce difficult short balls to vanquish DiFilippo in the tiebreak, 10-6. Gwozdz got an early lead in her tiebreak, but Belanger would not go quietly. The former Wizard played well retrieving a number of aggressive Gwozdz shots, but eventually succumbed 10-7 in the tiebreak.
Tennis Match Results
Rhode Island Col. vs Salve Regina
09/14/11 at Newport, R.I.
(Leroy Avenue)
Salve Regina 8, Rhode Island Col. 1
Singles competition
1. Nichol Stevens (SRU) def. Chelsea Brown (RICWT) 0-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-5)
2. Gabriela Batek (RICWT) def. Elizabeth DiFilippo (SRU) 7-6 (8-6), 0-6, 1-0 (10-6)
3. Ana Gwozdz (SRU) def. Doris Belanger (RICWT) 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-7)
4. Shannon O'Brien (SRU) def. Gianna Vallante (RICWT) 6-0, 6-1
5. Elizabeth Liguori (SRU) def. Taylor Clark (RICWT) 6-0, 6-0
6. Erica Shay (SRU) def. Amanda Ferri (RICWT) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Ana Gwozdz/Nichol Stevens (SRU) def. Gabriela Batek/Chelsea Brown (RICWT) 8-5
2. Shannon O'Brien/Megan Olson (SRU) def. Doris Belanger/Gianna Vallante (RICWT) 8-3
3. Annie Mallin/Erica Shay (SRU) def. Amanda Ferri/Taylor Clark (RICWT) 8-1
Match Notes:
Rhode Island Col. 0-6
Salve Regina 2-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,6,4,1,2,3)
Official: self-officiated T-3:22 A-38
