Box Score

DUDLEY, Mass. – Sophomore Cristina Szepanski (Windsor Locks, Conn.) dominated in her singles and doubles matches as the Nichols College women's tennis team defeated Western New England 9-0 in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action Saturday afternoon at the Pomfret School.

The Bison have now won the last six head-to-head meetings with the Golden Bears to even the all-time record at 6-6 after dropping the first six.

Nichols (9-2, 5-1 CCC) breezed through doubles, sweeping them for the fifth consecutive match. Szepanski and senior captain Lindsay Benoit (Holden, Mass.) took down freshman Christina D'Agostino (Bohemia, N.Y.) and junior Kelly Byrnes (Berlin, Conn.) 8-1 at No. 2 doubles.

The freshman pairing of Ashley Dallaire (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and Daniela Saldarriaga (Medellin, Colombia) followed that up with the same score at No. 3 doubles, defeating freshmen Alice Mathews (Scarborough, Mass.) and Jessica Breitweg (Bohemia, N.Y.) 8-1.

At No. 1 doubles, freshmen Alanna Judd (Westborough, Mass.) and Lauren Candia (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) had no trouble with freshman Lauren Sell (Milford, Conn.) and sophomore Joeanna Glantz (Agawam, Mass.), winning 8-2.

The Bison picked up in singles where they left off in doubles. Candia won at No. 4 singles and Szepanski at No. 2 by a score of 6-0, 6-0 against Byrnes and Glantz, respectively.

At No. 3 singles, Benoit took care of D'Agostino 6-1, 6-1 while Judd had no trouble with Sell at No. 1 singles, winning 6-1, 6-3.

Senior Katie Malloy (Norwell, Mass.) took the win in the No. 6 flight against senior Michelle Magliulo (Manorville, N.Y.) 6-2, 6-1.

Saldarriaga needed to go to a third set tiebreaker against sophomore Corey St. Louis (Groton, Conn.) but ultimately came away with the victory 6-0, 2-6, 10-7.

"It was a solid overall team effort today," said Nichols head coach Paul Brower. "I really think our second doubles was outstanding and Lauren Candia shined in shutting out her opponent."

The Bison travel to take on Colby-Sawyer on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. The Golden Bears host Gordon on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.