DUDLEY, Mass.  – Endicott sophomore Natalie Egbert (Gorham, Maine) won a crucial tiebreaker at the third singles flight to help the second-seeded Gulls upend top-seeded Nichols, 5-1, in the 2012 Commonwealth Coast Conference Women's Tennis Championship title match on what turned out to be a sunny Saturday afternoon at Francis W. Robinson Courts. With the win, Endicott (14-2, 7-1 CCC) captured its third crown overall and its second title in as many seasons.
 
Egbert delivered the match-ending fifth point as she downed senior Alex Cifone (Bristol, Conn.), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
 
The Gulls swept the doubles session beginning with a pair of 8-1 victories. Sophomore Amy Heacox (Marion, Mass.) and freshman Brittany Potter (Bedford, N.H.) defeated senior Megan Woodruff (Morris, Conn.) and junior Erin Rivers (Bristol, Conn.) while junior Emilie Cloutier (Lewiston, Maine) and senior Gina Pinciaro (Beverly, Mass.) topped junior Anna Dyakiv (Amsterdam, N.Y) and senior Jillian McQuiggan (Weymouth, Mass.). With all the attention on court one, Egbert and sophomore Chrissy Martel (Westbrook, Conn.) went toe-to-toe with sophomore Lindsay Benoit (Holden, Mass.) and Cifone as the Gull duo emerged with an 8-6 triumph.
 
Woodruff claimed the only Bison point of the afternoon as she topped Pinciaro in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0 as she finished the season 9-0, in singles play, against CCC opponents. Heacox then brought the visitors within a point of claiming the championship with a 6-0, 3-6, 6-0 triumph at the fourth flight.
 
“I'm very happy with the way we played particularly after a slow start,” commented Nichols Head Women's Tennis Coach Paul Brower. “We really battled in singles. If we had a couple of good bounces in the tiebreak (it) goes to a third set. It's anybody's game at that point. All in all a good season, but today they were better. They took the win and we'll be back next year.”
 
Nichols ends the fall season with a 12-5 overall record its third undefeated conference regular season (8-0).

 
Tennis Match Results
Endicott 5, Nichols 1
10/20/12 at Dudley, Mass. (Francis W. Robinson Courts)
 
Singles competition
1. Anna Dyakiv (NC) vs. Emilie Cloutier (EC) 6-4, 2-6, 0-1, unfinished
2. Lindsay Benoit (NC) vs. Chrissy Martel (EC) 6-2, 2-5, unfinished
3. Natalie Egbert (EC) def. Alex Cifone (NC) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
4. Amy Heacox (EC) def. Jillian McQuiggan (NC) 6-0, 3-6, 6-0
5. Megan Woodruff (NC) def. Gina Pinciaro (EC) 6-3, 6-0
6. Katie Malloy (NC) vs. Rachel Fenstermaker (EC) 6-4, 5-5, unfinished
 
Doubles competition
1. Natalie Egbert/Chrissy Martel (EC) def. Lindsay Benoit/Alex Cifone (NC) 8-6
2. Emilie Cloutier/Gina Pinciaro (EC) def. Anna Dyakiv/Jillian McQuiggan (NC) 8-1
3. Amy Heacox/Brittany Potter (EC) def. Megan Woodruff/Erin Rivers (NC) 8-1
 
Match Notes
Endicott 14-2, 7-1 CCC
Nichols 12-5, 8-0 CCC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,4,3)
2012 Commonwealth Coast Conference Women's Tennis Championship
Endicott wins its third women's tennis title overall and second in-a-row
The Gulls earn the CCC's automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament in the spring
Official: David Keene
Official: Donald Cortese T-3:20 A-250