DUDLEY, Mass. – Maria Balabanova (Moscow, Russia) rallied to take a three-set marathon at No. 4 singles to give the Nichols College women's tennis team a 5-4 win over visiting Roger Williams College Wednesday afternoon in The Commonwealth Coast Conference play. The win marks the first for the Bison over the Hawks since 1996. Senior Jessica Porter (Melrose, Mass.) won at No. 1 singles for her 36th career singles victory, setting a program record for career singles wins.
Balabanova dropped the first set, 1-6, to Roger Williams' Amanda Wolfe before rallying for 6-3, 6-3 victories in the second and third to edge the Bison ahead for the win and a 3-1 record in TCCC play.
Porter won her match against Leah Ribchinsky, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) for her record-setting victory, and to set up Balabanova for the match's deciding point. Her win eclipsed the career mark set by Christina Cabral from 1999-2002.
Roger Williams (2-2, 2-1 TCCC) held a 2-1 lead after doubles play, with wins at the second and third spots. Porter and first-year player Chelsea Miller (Salem, Conn.) edged Ribchinsky and Lily Osowski at No. 1 doubles, 8-6, for the lone Bison point.
The Hawks' Katelin Richard and Caitlin Osepchuk handed Molly McGuire (East Sandwich, Mass.) and Balabanova an 8-3 loss at No. 2 doubles while Kristin Dono and Wolfe remained undefeated in league play with an 8-6 win over Emily Levine (Providence, R.I.) and Brittany Pope (North Attleboro, Mass.).
McGuire defeated Osowski at second singles, 7-5, 6-2, to improve to 7-0 on the season, while Miller took a 6-3, 6-1 decision at No. 3 singles over Katie Wilmes.
Roger Williams took both points at fifth and sixth singles with Richard dealing Kelsey Urbanetti (Glastonbury, Conn.) her first loss of the season, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 5 singles, and Osepchuk winning, 6-2, 6-1, over Levine in the six spot.
Nichols continues TCCC play with a noon home match against Western New England College on Saturday. Roger Williams travels to Endicott for a noon TCCC match Saturday.
Singles competition:
1. Jessica Porter (NC) def. Leah Ribchinsky (RWU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
2. Molly McGuire (NC) def. Lily Osowski (RWU) 7-5, 6-2
3. Chelsey Miller (NC) def. Katie Wilmes (RWU) 6-3, 6-1
4. Maria Balabanova (NC) def. Amanda Wolfe (RWU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
5. Katelin Richard (RWU) def. Kelsey Urbanetti (NC) 6-1, 6-1
6. Caitlin Osepchuk (RWU) def. Emily Levine (NC) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles competition:
1. Jessica Porter/Chelsey Miller (NC) def. Leah Ribchinsky/Lily Osowski (RWU) 8-6
2. Katelin Richard/Caitlin Osepchuk (RWU) def. Molly McGuire/Maria Balabanova (NC) 8-3
3. Kristin Dono/Amanda Wolfe (RWU) def. Emily Levine/Brittany Pope (NC) 8-6
