DUDLEY, Mass. – The Nichols college women's tennis team has secured the No. 4 seed in this week's Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Tournament and will host No. 5 Western New England in the quarterfinal round on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at the Robinson Tennis Courts.

The Bison completed the conference slate with a 5-3 record and 7-4 overall. The three losses within conference-play for the Bison all came to the top three seeds in the conference tournament (Endicott, Gordon, and Roger Williams).

Nichols defeated Western New England when the two teams met back in the middle of September 8-1. The Golden Bears were only able to come away with a point at No. 3 doubles. The Bison hold a seven-match winning streak against WNE.

Nichols is led by a lot of youth on the team this year. Sophomore Lauren Candia (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) paces the Bison with an 8-3 record this season including 6-2 within the CCC. Candia along with junior captain Cristina Szepanski (Windsor Locks, Conn.) are the only two returning all-conference honorees from a year ago.

Szepanski filled the No. 2 singles spot for the Bison for most of the year. She finished the regular season with a 7-4 (5-3 CCC) record while also compiling a team-high 10 wins at No. 2 doubles along with sophomore partner Daniela Saldarriaga (Medellin, Colombia).

Western New England (6-4, 4-4 CCC) is led by sophomore Lauren Sell (Milford, Conn.) at No. 1 singles. Sell posted a 5-4 (3-4 CCC) mark in singles. Sell has been the No. 1 player on the Golden Bears since she arrived on campus. Junior captain Joeanna Glantz (Agawam, Mass.) plays in the No. 2 flight for WNE also recording a 5-4 record while going 3-4 within the conference.

The winner between the Bison and Golden Bears will take on the reigning four-time CCC champions, Endicott College (10-2, 8-0 CCC), on Thursday at a time to be announced. The other quarterfinal match features No. 3 Roger Williams and No. 6 Salve Regina Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. The winner of that match will play at Gordon Thursday. The championship will be played Saturday at the higher seed.