DUDLEY, Mass. – The Western New England College women's tennis team edged Nichols, 5-4, for its first win of the season Saturday afternoon in The Commonwealth Coast Conference action. The Golden Bears held a 2-1 advantage after doubles play, and were led on the singles side by a 6-4, 7-6 victory at No. 2 singles by Nikki DeSimone (Agawam, Mass.).
The Bison (6-2, 3-2 TCCC) earned their lone doubles point in the top spot as senior Jessica Porter (Melrose, Mass.) and first-year player Chelsey Miller (Salem, Conn.) picked up an 8-4 win over DeSimone and Kristen Ayers (Acton, Mass.).
The Golden Bears (1-4, 1-3 TCCC) earned an 8-4 decision at No. 2 doubles as Nicole Freed (Jersey Shore, Pa.) and Jessica Haffner (Suffield, Conn.) defeated Molly McGuire (East Sandwich, Mass.) and Maria Balabanova (Moscow, Russia).
At third doubles, Kelly Murnane (Cheshire, Conn.) and Ashley Czelatka (Southampton, N.Y.) swept an 8-0 match from Monica Bassi (Branford, Conn.) and Jessica Burdick (Clinton, Mass.).
Porter edged out a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 victory at No. 1 singles over Ayers, and Miller took a 7-6, 6-3 victory at No. 3 singles over Freed. Balabanova hung on for a 6-2, 7-5 win over Haffner in the fourth spot, but WNEC won at fifth and sixth singles to take the match. McGuire's loss at No. 2 singles to DeSimone marked the first of the season; she stands at 7-1 this year.
Murname defeated Kelsey Urbanetti (Glastonbury, Conn.), 7-5, 6-1 at No. 5 singles, while Chrissy Barbarisi (Feeding Hills, Mass.) topped Marissa McLaughlin (Hollis, N.H.), 6-4, 6-3 in the sixth spot.
Nichols is back in action at Wentworth for a 3:30 p.m. TCCC match Tuesday. WNEC hosts Eastern Nazarene Tuesday for a 3:30 p.m. conference tilt.
Tennis Match Results
Western New England College vs Nichols
Sep 20, 2008 at Dudley, Mass
Western New England College 5, Nichols 4
Singles competition:
1. Jessica Porter (NC) def. Kristen Ayers (WNEC) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
2. Nicole DeSimone (WNEC) def. Molly McGuire (NC) 6-4, 7-6
3. Chelsey Miller (NC) def. Nicole Freed (WNEC) 7-6, 6-3
4. Maria Balabanova (NC) def. Jessica Haffner (WNEC) 6-2, 7-5
5. Kelly Murname (WNEC) def. Kelsey Urbanetti (NC) 7-5, 6-1
6. Christina Barbarisi (WNEC) def. Marissa McLaughlin (NC) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles competition:
1. Jessica Porter/Chelsey Miller (NC) def. Kristen Ayers/Nicole DeSimone (WNEC) 8-4
2. Nicole Freed/Jessica Haffner (WNEC) def. Molly McGuire/Maria Balabanova (NC) 8-4
3. Kelly Murname/Ashley Czelatka (WNEC) def. Monica Bassi/Jessica Burdick (NC) 8-0
