DUDLEY, Mass. (Oct. 22) – The No. 2 seed Endicott Gulls avenged a close regular season defeat to No. 1 Nichols and in the process claimed the Commonwealth Coast Conference Women's Tennis championship for the first time since 2008 with a 5-3 victory on Saturday afternoon. Endicott finished the fall season with a 14-1 record overall and 7-1 in conference play. Nichols posted an 12-4 mark and 8-0 in the loop.
 
Nichols sophomore Anna Dyakiv and CCC Rookie of the Year Lindsay Benoit began the doubles session with an 8-2 win over Endicott senior Katie Cioffi and classmate Emily Annis.
 
The third flight duo of sophomore Emilie Cloutier and freshman Amy Heacox evened the match as they blanked junior Alexandra Cifone and first year Kelsey Peterson.
 
Senior Chelsey Miller and junior Jillian McQuiggan put Nichols ahead once more as they posted an 8-4 win at second doubles as they defeated senior Laura MacLeod and rookie Natalie Egbert.
 
In singles action, Endicott struck first as Heacox claimed the third flight with a 6-0, 6-2 over Cifone. Dyakiv, the CCC Women's Tennis Player of the Year, gave Nichols its final lead of the afternoon besting Cioffi 6-0, 7-5 in the first flight. Annis then defeated Miller in the fourth position with a 6-3, 6-1 win.
 
Endicott pulled ahead for good with a win at fifth singles as Egbert handed McQuiggan a 6-3, 6-2 defeat. Junior Gina Pinciaro sealed the victory for the Gulls as she earned a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Peterson at the sixth singles flight.
 
During the post-match ceremony CCC Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye recognized the women's tennis coaches and All-CCC student-athletes that were in attendance.  Members of the All-CCC teams were presented their certificates and joined their fellow honorees for photos.


Endicott vs Nichols (10/22/11)
at Dudley, Mass. (Francis W. Robinson Courts)
 
Endicott 5, Nichols 3
 
Singles competition
1. Anna Dyakiv (NC) def. Kate Cioffi (EC) 6-0, 7-5
2. Lindsay Benoit (NC) vs. Emilie Cloutier (EC) 2-6, 6-2, 0-1, unfinished
3. Amy Heacox (EC) def. Alexandra Cifone (NC) 6-0, 6-2
4. Emily Annis (EC) def. Chelsey Miller (NC) 6-3, 6-1
5. Natalie Egbert (EC) def. Jillian McQuiggan (NC) 6-3, 6-2
6. Gina Pinciaro (EC) def. Kelsey Peterson (NC) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Anna Dyakiv/Lindsay Benoit (NC) def. Kate Cioffi/Emily Annis (EC) 8-2
2. Chelsey Miller/Jillian McQuiggan (NC) def. Laura MacLeod/Natalie Egbert (EC) 8-4
3. Emilie Cloutier/Amy Heacox (EC) def. Kelsey Peterson/Alexandra Cifone (NC) 8-0
 
Match Notes
Endicott 14-1, 7-1
Nichols 12-4, 8-0
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,1,4,5,6)
Commonwealth Coast Conference Women's Tennis Championship
Endicott earns CCC automatic berth to NCAA tournament
Referee: Don Cortese
Official: John Doherty T-2:45 A-175