Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Nichols College women's tennis team moved into a first-place tie atop the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) with a 8-1 win over Western New England on Monday afternoon.

This week's CCC Player of the Week, senior Anna Dyakiv (Amsterdam, N.Y.), continued her winning ways against the Golden Bears. Djakiv defeated graduate student Linda Mustafa (Chicopee, Mass.) at No. 1 singles, 6-0, 6-0. This is the first time Djakiv played No. 1 singles this season.

Junior Lindsay Benoit (Holden, Mass.) played in the No. 2 spot and defeated freshman Joeanna Glantz (Agawam, Mass.) in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0.  All of the Bison won in straight sets in singles.  Freshman Cristina Szepanski (Windsor Locks, Conn.) defeated senior Lindsey Brudvig (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3.  At No. 4 singles, freshman Emma Carey (Venice, Fla.) finished 6-3, 6-0 over sophomore Kelly Byrnes (Berlin, Conn.), and junior Samantha Rydell (Williamstown, Mass.) defeated senior captain Ashley Lauricella (Monroe, Conn.) at No. 6 singles, 6-0, 6-1.

Junior Katie Malloy (Norwell, Mass.) won at No. 5 singles, defeating freshman Corey St. Louis (Groton, Conn.) 8-6. Malloy and St. Louis were forced to play an eight-game pro set due to darkness.

Western New England collected its only victory on the doubles side. The duo of Brudvig and Lauricella defeated senior Erin Rivers (Bristol, Conn.) and sophomore Michelle Keklik (Stratford, Conn.) 9-8 (5).

Djakiv and Szepanski put away Mustafa and Glantz in No. 1 doubles 8-4, while Benoit and Carey went on to victory against senior Kelsey Grode (Fairview, Pa.) and Byrnes, 8-1, at No. 2 doubles.

The Bison (4-2, 3-0 CCC) host Gordon in a conference match on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the Robinson Tennis Courts. Western New England will host Endicott on Tuesday at 3:30 pm.