Box Score

DUDLEY, Mass. – Freshman Alanna Judd (Westborough, Mass.) won her singles and doubles matches as the Nichols College women's tennis team defeated Assumption 5-4 Thursday afternoon at the Pomfret School.

Nichols (3-1) moves to 5-0 all-time against Assumption. This is the best start to the season for the Bison since 2010 when they started off the year 4-0.

The Bison got off to a fast start, sweeping through doubles matches. Senior Lindsay Benoit (Holden, Mass.) and sophomore Cristina Szepanski (Windsor Locks, Conn.) defeated junior Marie Black (Palmyra, N.Y.) and freshman Aida Vila (Girona, Spain) 8-3 at No. 2 doubles.

The No. 3 pairing of freshmen Ashley Dallaire (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and Daniela Saldarriaga (Medellin, Colombia) took care of freshman Maggie Holland (Newburyport, Mass.) and sophomore Kristen Carbone (Taunton, Mass.) 8-3.

At No. 1 doubles, sophomore Hannah Riley (Ellington, Conn.) and freshman Cassie Burbine (Londonderry, N.H.) gave Judd and her classmate Lauren Candia (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) a run for their money, but it was the Bison that came out on top 8-5.

Assumption (0-1) bounced back in the singles matches. Burbine won No. 2 singles and junior Aubrey Lovejoy (Holden, Mass.) won No. 6 singles each by a total of 6-1, 6-1 against Szepanski and Saldarriaga, respectively.

At No. 2 singles, Riley defeated Benoit 6-4, 6-2 to tie the match at 3-3.

Candia put the Bison back in the lead after winning the No. 4 singles match against Black 7-6(7-4), 6-4. The Greyhounds bounced right back, as Holland defeated Dallaire 7-5, 7-5 at No. 5 singles.

Tied 4-4, it all came down to the No. 1 singles match between Judd and Vila. Vila had complete control over the first set, winning it 6-2, before Judd bounced back to take the second set 6-2. Both players went back and forth in the final set before Judd was able to seal the deal for the Bison 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.

"Today's doubles matches were outstanding," said Nichols head coach Paul Brower. "That is the first time we have had a sweep of doubles against a program of that caliber ever. Assumption fought back in singles, but a lot of credit to Lauren Candia and Alanna Judd and the fight they displayed."

The Bison open up conference play on Saturday when they travel to Wentworth for a noon-match. The Greyhounds host Stonehill on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.