POMFRET, Conn. (Oct. 19) – Senior Chelsey Miller claimed the match-clinching fifth point with a 6-0, 6-1 singles victory to help send the #1 Nichols to the Commonwealth Coast Conference Women's Tennis Championship match as the team defeated #4 Salve Regina 5-1 on Wednesday afternoon. Overall the Bison sport a 12-3 record and 8-0 in the conference while the Seahawks finish the fall portion of the schedule at 8-5 and 5-3.
 
Bison first-year Lindsay Benoit and sophomore Anna Dyakiv downed rookies Elizabeth DiFilippo and Megan Olson 8-2 at the first doubles flight to begin the day.
 
The Seahawk duo of junior Shannon O'Brien and senior Nichol Stevens set down junior Jillian McQuiggan and Senior Chelsey Miller 8-4 in the second doubles position.
 
In what proved to be the match of the day, Nichols' junior Alexandra Cifone and first year Kelsey Peterson overcame a 7-3 deficit to win 9-8 (8-6) over sophomores Elizabeth Ligouri and Ana Gwozdz. The Seahawk pair jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the tiebreaker before Cifone and Peterson mounted another comeback to put the Bison in front 2-1 after doubles.
 
In singles action, Dyakiv bested Stevens 6-1, 6-1 at the first flight while Benoit posted a 6-0, 6-2 victory over DiFilippo in the second flight. Miller then put the match away with the 6-0, 6-1 win against O'Brien at the fourth singles flight.
 
Nichols moves on to host #2 Endicott on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. for the CCC Championship and automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament in the spring. The Gulls defeated #3 Roger Williams 5-0 to advance to the finals.


Tennis Match Results
Salve Regina vs Nichols
10/19/2011 at Pomfret, Conn.
(Pomfret School)
 
Nichols 5, Salve Regina 1
 
 Singles competition
1. Anna Dyakiv (NC) def. Nichol Stevens (SRU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Lindsay Benoit (NC) def. Elizabeth DiFilippo (SRU) 6-0, 6-2
3. Alexandra Cifone (NC) vs. Ana Gwozdz (SRU) 6-3, 4-2, unfinished
4. Chelsey Miller (NC) def. Shannon O'Brien (SRU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Karlee Walther (SRU) vs. Jillian McQuiggan (NC) no result
6. Elizabeth Liguori (SRU) vs. Kelsey Peterson (NC) no result
 
 Doubles competition
1. Lindsay Benoit/Anna Dyakiv (NC) def. Elizabeth DiFilippo/Meg Olson (SRU) 8-2
2. Shannon O'Brien/Nichol Stevens (SRU) def. Jillian McQuiggan/Chelsey Miller (NC) 8-4
3. Alexandra Cifone/Kelsey Peterson (NC) def. Elizabeth Liguori/Ana Gwozdz (SRU) 9-8 (8-6)
 
Match Notes:
Salve Regina 8-5, 5-3
Nichols 12-3, 8-0
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,2,4)
Commonwealth Coast Conference Semifinal Match #4 Salve Regina at #1 Nichols
Nichols hosts #2 Endicott in the CCC Championship at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday
Official: Toman Fayed  T-2:34  A-44