NEWPORT, R.I. (Oct. 2) – The Nichols College women's tennis team remained unbeaten in The Commonwealth Coast Conference action with a 7-2 win on the road at Salve Regina University in Newport.

The Seahawks put the first point on the board with freshman Ana Gwozdz and senior Erin Phillips building a 7-4 advantage and then holding on for a 9-7 win at No. 1 doubles. Despite going 16 games, that match ended earlier than others with fewer games.

Bison senior Maria Balabanova (Moscow, Russia) and freshman Anna Dyakiv (Amsterdam, N.Y.) put the visitors on the board with an 8-3 win at No. 2 doubles. Meanwhile, at No. 3 doubles, sophomores Alex Cifone (Bristol, Conn.) and Megan Woodruff (Morris, Conn.) earned an 8-4 decision over the Seahawk pair of Jessica Moore and Karlee Walther.

Sophomore Jillian McQuiggan (Weymouth, Mass.) made it 3-1 for Nichols with a straight-set win at No. 2 singles. Moore fought back in her second set at No. 4 singles for a 6-1, 7-5 victory and Salve Regina was back within one.

Woodruff won a close first set with Walther and took an early 3-0 lead in the second before the Seahawk sophomore rallied for two straight games. Woodruff won the final three to put the Bison up 4-2.

Salve Regina senior Valerie Leso closed out her first set with a cross-court volley winner and a 6-3 score at No. 5 singles. Balabanova regrouped and rallied for a three-set victory (3-6, 6-0, 6-2) that clinched the team score for Nichols.

Dyakiv came back from down a break (4-5) in the first and also saved a couple break points while serving in the 12th game of the set at No. 1 singles. She remained unbeaten in singles (11-0) after her 7-5, 6-4 victory over Phillips. It was the first singles loss for Phillips in dual match play this year.

Cifone and Gwozdz finished the day with a super-tiebreak for their third set at No. 3 singles. Cifone jumped to a 7-1 lead before Gwozdz won the next five points. Cifone held on for a 6-3,5-7,1-0(10-6) triumph to make the final score 7-2.

Salve Regina (7-2; 7-2 TCCC) travels to Regis College on Tuesday while Nichols (10-1; 9-0 TCCC) hosts Western New England College.

Story courtesy Salve Regina Sports Information

Tennis Match Results

Nichols vs Salve Regina
10/02/10 at Newport, R.I.
(Leroy Avenue courts)

Nichols 7, Salve Regina 2

Singles competition
1. Anna Dyakiv (NC) def. Erin Phillips (SRU) 7-5, 6-4
2. Jillian McQuiggan (NC) def. Nichol Stevens (SRU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Alexandra Cifone (NC) def. Ana Gwozdz (SRU) 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (10-6)
4. Jessica Moore (SRU) def. Chelsey Miller (NC) 6-1, 7-5
5. Maria Balabanova (NC) def. Valerie Leso (SRU) 3-6, 6-0, 6-2
6. Megan Woodruff (NC) def. Karlee Walther (SRU) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Ana Gwozdz/Erin Phillips (SRU) def. Jillian McQuiggan/Chelsey Miller (NC) 9-7
2. Maria Balabanova/Anna Dyakiv (NC) def. Valerie Leso/Nichol Stevens (SRU) 8-3
3. Alexandra Cifone/Megan Woodruff (NC) def. Jessica Moore/Karlee Walther (SRU) 8-4

Match Notes:
Nichols 10-1; 9-0 TCCC
Salve Regina 7-2; 7-2 TCCC

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,4,6,5,1,3)
Official: self-officiated T-3:29 A-58