SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (September 22, 2018) – The Western New England University women's tennis team was edged 5-4 by Salve Regina University on Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action at the Volvo Outdoor Courts.
Prior to the start of the match, Western New England recognized senior Petra Martinelli (Vernon, Conn.) for her contributions to the women's tennis program over the past four years.
The Seahawks won two of the three doubles matchups to open up a 2-1 lead. Lauren Harvey (Edmond, Okla.) and Makenzie Sadler (Mystic, Conn.) defeated Western New England's top duo of junior Morgan Schrader (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) and sophomore Maylene LaPress (Bedford, N.H.) 8-3, while Martinelli and sophomore Kyra Palumbo (Albany, N.Y.) fell to Anna Godshalk (Orleans, Mass.) and Erin Stangel (Old Saybrook, Conn.) 8-5 at No. 2.
In the final doubles spot, junior Rachel Bauer (Palmer, Mass.) and sophomore Jessica Cote (Groton, Conn.) got the Golden Bears on the board with an 8-5 win over Laura Krick (Groton, Conn.) and Shealyn FitzPatrick (South Windsor, Conn.).
The match was decided in singles play via Krick's 6-1, 6-4 win over Cote at No. 4. Harvey topped LaPress 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1, and Schrader earned a 6-4, 6-1 result over Sadler at No. 2.
In the No. 3 spot, Petra Martinelli went to a third set tiebreaker with Abigail Burke (Harwich, Mass.) and came away with a key win.
The two teams split the final two singles matchups as Stangel posted a 6-1, 6-2 win over Bauer at No. 5 and freshman Janet Martinelli (Vernon, Conn.) registered a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 triumph over Darcy Carlin (Brewster, N.Y.) at No. 6.
Next Up
Western New England (1-4, 1-3 CCC) hosts Wentworth on Wednesday, while Salve Regina (3-2, 2-2 CCC) returns home to take on Nichols.
