DUDLEY, Mass. – The Roger Williams University women's tennis team defeated Nichols College, 5-4, in The Commonwealth Coast Conference quarterfinals Tuesday afternoon. The fifth-seeded Hawks avenged an earlier regular-season loss to the fourth-seeded Bison, their first in 12 seasons, and will advance to play top-seeded Colby-Sawyer on Wednesday, October 22, at 2 p.m. in New London, N.H.

Nichols held a 2-1 advantage after doubles play, but Roger Williams swept third through sixth singles to claim the victory, capped by junior Katelin Richard's (West Islip, N.Y.) 7-5, 6-3, win over Kelsey Urbanetti (Glastonbury, Conn.) at No. 5 singles.

The Bison's top doubles duo of senior Jessica Porter (Melrose, Mass.) and Chelsey Miller (Salem, Conn.) edged Lily Osowski (Byfield, Mass.) and Caitlin Osepchuk (Ocean Grove, N.J.), 8-6, to improve to 11-4 on the season and tie the program season wins mark. At No. 2 doubles, junior Molly McGuire (E. Sandwich, Mass.) and Maria Balabanova (Moscow, Russia) defeated Leah Ribchinski (Ivoryton, Conn.) and Richard, 8-4.

The Hawks picked up their lone doubles point in the third spot as Amanda Wolfe (Mansfield, Mass.) and Kristin Dono (West Boylston, Mass.) defeated Deirdre Watkins (Hubbardston, Mass.) and Urbanetti, 8-2.

Jill Mackey (Reading, Conn.) started off the Hawks' singles spree with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Watkins at No. 6 singles, and Wolfe followed suit with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Miller at third singles for a 3-2 lead.

Osepchuck's 6-3, 6-3 win over Balabanova at No. 4 singles put the Hawks ahead, 4-2, to set up Richard's match-winning point.

Porter and McGuire earned points for the Bison in singles action; Porter defeated Ribchinsky in a superset tiebreak, 6-0, 6-7 (4-7), 1-0 (10-7) at No. 1 singles, while McGuire topped Osowski at No. 2 singles, 7-5, 6-2.

Nichols continues its season this weekend at the New England Women's Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament (NEWITT), hosted by Mount Holyoke College.

Tennis Match Results

Roger Williams vs Nichols

Oct 14, 2008 at Dudley, Mass

Roger Williams 5, Nichols 4

Singles competition:

1. Jessica Porter (NC) def. Leah Ribchinsky (RWU) 6-0, 6-7 (4-7), 1-0 (10-7)

2. Molly McGuire (NC) def. Lily Osowski (RWU) 7-5, 6-2

3. Amanda Wolfe (RWU) def. Chelsey Miller (NC) 6-3, 6-4

4. Caitlin Osepchuk (RWU) def. Maria Balabanova (NC) 6-3, 6-3

5. Katelin Richard (RWU) def. Kelsey Urbanetti (NC) 7-5, 6-3

6. Jill Mackey (RWU) def. Deirdre Watkins (NC) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles competition:

1. Jessica Porter/Chelsey Miller (NC) def. Lily Osowski/Caitlin Osepchuk (RWU) 8-6

2. Molly McGuire/Maria Balabanova (NC) def. Leah Ribchinsky/Katelin Richard (RWU) 8-4

3. Amanda Wolfe/Kristin Dono (RWU) def. Deirdre Watkins/Kelsey Urbanetti (NC) 8-2

Match Notes:

Roger Williams 7-6

Nichols 10-6

TCCC Quarterfinal

Roger Williams advances to TCCC semifinals to face #1 seed Colby-Sawyer (16-0)

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