Box Score

DUDLEY, Mass. – The Nichols College team opened Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play with a 7-2 win against Wentworth Institute of Technology Saturday morning at the Robinson Tennis Courts.

The Bison began the day by taking two of the three doubles matches. Senior Anna Dyakiv (Amsterdam, N.Y.) and freshman Cristina Szepanski (Windsor Locks, Conn.) played No. 1 doubles and knocked off sophomore Caitlin Corcoran (Brockton, Mass.) and junior Virgina Ofer (Cooperstown, N.Y.), 8-4.

Junior Lindsay Benoit (Holden, Mass.) and freshman Emma Carey (Venice, Fla.) defeated senior Deborah Massaro (Stony Point, N.Y.) and sophomore Nicole McColgan (Tewksbury, Mass.), 8-2, at No. 2 doubles. At No. 3 doubles, the Leopards pair of graduate student Jillian Flynn (Billerica, Mass.) and sophomore Jessica Simms (Deep River, Conn.) defeated senior Erin Rivers (Bristol, R.I.) and sophomore Michelle Keklik (Stratford, Conn.), 9-7.

Benoit scored a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles over Corcoran while Dyakiv downed Massaro 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2. Szepanski handed McColgan a 6-0, 6-0 loss at No. 3 singles, Carey was a 6-1, 6-1 winner at No. 4 over Ofer, and Malloy outlasted junior Marisa Page (Warwick, R.I.) at No. 5 singles. Senior Olivia Henger (Medford, Mass.) picked up the Leopards second point of the afternoon with a 5-7, 6-3, 10-6 win over Keklik at No. 6 singles.

"We started out a little slow, but then our upperclassmen kicked it into gear and got us rolling," said Nichols head coach Paul Brower. "I liked what I saw from the bottom of the lineup as well today. I expect them to continue to improve as the season progresses."

The Bison return to action on Tuesday when they head to Western New England for a 3:30 p.m. match. Wentworth hosts Salve Regina Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.