NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University women's tennis took only one set from its rival up the road in Bristol, Roger Williams University, as the Hawks left Newport with a 9-0 victory in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) match.
Roger Williams (3-2; 2-1 CCC) swept the three doubles matches. Sophomore Samantha Curran (Cumberland, R.I.) and junior Tracy Klein (New City, N.Y.) blanked Salve Regina's top doubles pair of sophomore Ana Gwozdz (Taunton, Mass.) and senior Nichol Stevens (Chester, Conn.).
Junior Shannon O'Brien (Gorham, Maine) and freshman Megan Olson (Colchester, Vt.) rallied from an 0-5 deficit to win five of the next six games at second doubles. Libby Magner (Lakeville, Mass.) and Amanda Wolfe (Mansfield, Mass.) held on for an 8-5 victory.
At third doubles, Salve Regina's freshman pair of Elizabeth DiFilippo (West Chester, Pa.) and Erica Shay (Concord, Mass.) enjoyed a see-saw affair with Kristin Dono (West Boylston, Mass.) and Olivia Hilton (Vernon, Conn.). The Seahawk pair saved a match point in the 14th game and then held serve to force a tiebreak after the 16th game. Dono/Hilton won the first five points of the tiebreak which finished with a 7-3 score.
In singles play, only junior Karlee Walther (Natick, Mass.) managed to win a set against the Hawks, scoring a 6-3 first-set triumph over senior Caitlin Osepchuk (Ocean Grove, N.J.). Elizabeth Liguori (Westerly, R.I.) finished last with her match at sixth singles against Magner.
"We competed, but we have no wins to show for it," said Seahawk head coach Ed Habershaw. "I just love how our players never stop fighting. We saw it in the top three singles matches on Wednesday (against RIC) and again today. All of our players walked off their respective courts knowing they gave it everything they had. Karlee, in particular, was on an empty tank as she's recovered from an illness."
Salve Regina (2-3; 1-3 CCC) hosts the 28th Annual Women's Grass Court Doubles Championships at the International Tennis Hall of Fame tomorrow with six other schools participating.
"This is one of the highlights of our schedule," remarked Habershaw. "To be able to host this event on the historic grass courts, where the first U.S. Championships were held (1881), it doesn't get any better. The weather promises to be fantastic so we're looking forward to some serve and volley doubles action!"
Roger Williams next plays against defending CCC champion Nichols College on Wednesday. The Seahawks host Johnson & Wales University on Monday before entertaining Curry College on September 21.
Singles competition
1. Tracy Klein (RWU) def. Nichol Stevens (SRU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Samantha Curran (RWU) def. Elizabeth DiFilippo (SRU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Amanda Wolfe (RWU) def. Ana Gwozdz (SRU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Hillary Dutton (RWU) def. Shannon O'Brien (SRU) 7-5, 6-4
5. Caitlin Osepchuk (RWU) def. Karlee Walther (SRU) 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-6)
6. Libby Magner (RWU) def. Elizabeth Liguori (SRU) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Samantha Curran/Tracy Klein (RWU) def. Ana Gwozdz/Nichol Stevens (SRU) 8-0
2. Libby Magner/Amanda Wolfe (RWU) def. Shannon O'Brien/Meg Olson (SRU) 8-5
3. Kristin Dono/Olivia Hilton (RWU) def. Elizabeth DiFilippo/Erica Shay (SRU) 9-8 (7-3)
Match Notes
Roger Williams 3-2; 2-1 CCC
Salve Regina 2-3; 1-3 CCC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,4,1,3,5,6)
Official: Marie Collyer T-3:33 A-48
