DUDLEY, Mass. (Sept. 8) – Senior Molly McGuire (E. Sandwich, Mass.) became Nichols College's all-time career singles victories leader as she won her 44th career match in the Bison's 7-2 The Commonwealth Coast Conference victory over visiting Endicott at the Francis W. Robinson Courts Tuesday afternoon. Nichols remains undefeated on the season with the win - the first for the Bison over the Gulls since 1995. The Bison stand at 4-0 (2-0 TCCC) while Endicott dips to 2-1 (1-1 TCCC) on the year.
McGuire fought off four match points in a hard-fought victory at No. 2 singles, rallying to defeat Nicole Breting (Johnston, R.I.) in a super tiebreaker, 5-7, 6-2, 1-0 (11-9). She also combined with TCCC Player of the Week Jillian McQuiggan (Weymouth, Mass.) for a win at the top doubles flight, defeating Kate Cioffi (Essex, Vt.) and Alyson Boehm (Lowell, Mass.), 8-3, to help Nichols to a 2-1 lead after doubles play.
Maria Balabanova (Moscow, Russia) and Megan Woodruff (Morris, Conn.) earned the other point for the Bison with an 8-0 defeat of Rachel Layton (Falmouth, Maine) and Kerri Dunn (Middleton, Mass.).
Nicole Breting (Johnston, R.I.) and Lori Wardner (Wrentham, Mass.) picked up the doubles point for the Gulls in an 8-6 win over TCCC Rookie of the Week Alexandra Cifone (Bristol, Conn.) and sophomore Chelsey Miller (Salem, Conn.), handing the pair their first loss of the year.
McQuiggan was the first to finish on the singles side, defeating Cioffi, 6-3, 6-0, in the top flight. Miller followed with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Dunn at No. 5 singles before Woodruff clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-2 win against Layton at sixth singles.
Cifone won her first set against Wardner, 6-2, and dropped the next, 2-6, before rallying in the tiebreak, 10-3.
Boehm won the Gulls' lone singles point with a lengthy 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (13-11) victory over Balabanova at No. 4 singles.
Nichols takes a break from TCCC play with a 4 p.m. home match against Thomas (Maine) Thursday. Endicott hosts Salem State Thursday at 4 p.m. for a non-conference tilt.
Tennis Match Results
Endicott vs Nichols
9/8/2009 at Dudley, Mass.
(Francis W. Robinson Courts)
Nichols 7, Endicott 2
Singles competition
1. Jillian McQuiggan (NC) def. Kate Cioffi (EC) 6-3, 6-0
2. Molly McGuire (NC) def. Nicole Breting (EC) 5-7, 6-2, 1-0 (11-9)
3. Alexandra Cifone (NC) def. Lori Wardner (EC) 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (10-3)
4. Alyson Boehm (EC) def. Maria Balabanova (NC) 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (13-11)
5. Chelsey Miller (NC) def. Kerri Dunn (EC) 6-2, 6-1
6. Megan Woodruff (NC) def. Rachel Layton (EC) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Jillian McQuiggan/Molly McGuire (NC) def. Kate Cioffi/Alyson Boehm (EC) 8-3
2. Nicole Breting/Lori Wardner (EC) def. Alexandra Cifone/Chelsey Miller (NC) 8-6
3. Maria Balabanova/Megan Woodruff (NC) def. Rachel Layton/Kerri Dunn (EC) 8-0
Match Notes:
Endicott 4-0, 2-0
Nichols 4-0, 1-1
Order of finish: Doubles (); Singles (1,5,6,3,4,2)
Molly McGuire sets Nichols College career singles wins record (44)
T-2:48 A-46
