DUDLEY, Mass. (Oct. 8) – Nichols sophomore Anna Dyakiv delivered in the decisive third set of her singles match to earn the key fifth point in a 5-4 victory over visiting Endicott on a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Bison earn the No. 1 seed in the Commonwealth Coast Conference tournament and finish the regular season 11-3 overall and 8-0 in the loop, while Endicott suffered its only defeat of the season and sports an 11-1 record and 7-1 in the league.
 
Senior Chelsey Miller and junior Jillian McQuiggan picked up the first point of the day with an 8-1 victory over senior Laura MacLeod and rookie Natalie Egbert. Dyakiv and first-year Lindsay Benoit followed with an 8-3 triumph over senior Katie Cioffi and classmate Emily Annis. Endicott freshman Amy Heacox and sophomore Emilie Cloutier closed out the doubles portion with an 8-2 win over junior Alexandra Cifone and first year Kelsey Peterson.
 
The clubs traded points in singles action as Miller defeated Annis 6-4, 6-1 after falling behind 4-1 in the first set. Egbert then earned a win over McQuiggan 7-5, 6-2. Benoit cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 win over Cloutier while Heacox won a second set tiebreaker on her way to a 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) win against Cifone.
 
With the Bison ahead 4-3, Dyakiv captured the valuable fifth point in a 2:45 match with Cioffi by scores of 5-7, 6-2, 6-4. The final match of the day saw junior Gina Pinciaro defeat Peterson, 6-3, 6-7 (3-7). 7-6 (7-2), in a contest that ran just over three hours.
 
Each team will host a semifinal round at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19. Nichols will entertain either No. 4 Salve Regina or No. 5 Curry, While Endicott hosts No. 3 Roger Williams or No. 6 Western New England.

Prior to the match, Miller, who won in singles and doubles, was honored for her four years with the program with a pre-match ceremony. Including today, the senior has a 42-15 record in singles action and a 44-21 mark in doubles play and had an opportunity to play in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
 
2011-12 Nichols College Women's Tennis
Endicott vs Nichols (10/08/11)
at Dudley, Mass. (Francis W. Robinson Courts)
 
Nichols 5, Endicott 4
 
Singles competition
1. Anna Dyakiv (NC) def. Kate Cioffi (EC) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
2. Lindsay Benoit (NC) def. Emilie Cloutier (EC) 6-2, 6-3
3. Amy Heacox (EC) def. Alexandra Cifone (NC) 6-2, 7-6 (7-2)
4. Chelsey Miller (NC) def. Emily Annis (EC) 6-4, 6-1
5. Natalie Egbert (EC) def. Jillian McQuiggan (NC) 7-5, 6-2
6. Gina Pinciaro (EC) def. Kelsey Peterson (NC) 6-3, 6-7 (3-7). 7-6 (7-2)
 
Doubles competition
1. Anna Dyakiv/Lindsay Benoit (NC) def. Kate Cioffi/Emily Annis (EC) 8-3
2. Chelsey Miller/Jillian McQuiggan (NC) def. Laura MacLeod/Natalie Egbert (EC) 8-1
3. Amy Heacox/Emilie Cloutier (EC) def. Alexandra Cifone/Kelsey Peterson (NC) 8-2
 
Match Notes
Endicott 11-1, 7-1
Nichols 11-3, 8-0
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,5,2,3,1,6)
Nichols earns No. 1 seed in upcoming CCC Tournament
Both teams earn a bye and host a CCC semifinal match on Oct. 19
Official: Michael Kalinowski T-4:00 A-125