Seahawk Women's Tennis Results
For immediate release
October 14, 2009
Contact: Ed Habershaw, 401-341-2271
Defending champions end Salve Regina's run at 14th league title
BEVERLY, Mass. - Salve Regina University women's tennis took a 2-1 lead after doubles play but the 2008 The Commonwealth Coast Conference champion Endicott College recovered for four singles wins to earn a 5-2 decision in the TCCC quarterfinal.
"Our effort was outstanding," said Seahawk head coach Ed Habershaw. "But the Gulls were just too tough in singles today."
Endicott put the first point on the board with an 8-0 win at No. 2 doubles from seniors Nicole Breting [Johnston, R.I.] and Lori Wardner [Wrentham, Mass.] over freshman Erin Henriksen [East Hampton, Conn.] and junior Valerie Leso [West Warwick, R.I.]. The Seahawk duo threw a mix of lobs and passing shots at the Gulls, but the Endicott seniors responded with strong net play.
Salve Regina's No. 3 doubles pair of sophomore Gina DeMaio [East Bridgewater, Mass.] and junior Elise Jones [Pittsfield, Mass.] avenged an 8-3 regular-season loss to Endicott's Emily Annis [Hampton, N.H.] and Rachel Layton [Falmouth, Maine] with an 8-5 victory today.
"Gina and Elise did not let previous results dictate today's outcome," said Habershaw. "In their warmups with each other, they were moving well and hitting crisp volleys; that play carried over to the match."
Salve Regina's No. 1 doubles pair, junior Erin Phillips [Morristown, N.J.] and senior captain Jessica Timpano [Narragansett, R.I.], did not have revenge as a motivator but rather vindication. The Seahawks were overlooked for first-team all-TCCC honors in favor of two Gulls' doubles teams despite having wins over both pairs in the last two seasons.
Phillips and Timpano defeated Kate Cioffi [Essex, Vt.] and Alyson Boehm [Lowell, Mass.], 8-6, after trailing 6-5 and down a break. Phillips punctuated the victory with a crossing backhand volley.
The Gulls turned the tables in singles play as Breting defeated Timpano in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. At No. 3 singles, Wardner did not drop a game against Leso.
Annis won her No. 6 singles match over DeMaio to give the Gulls a 4-2 lead. With three matches remaining on court, Endicott needed to pull out a win in just one of them to advance.
"Erin Henriksen and Alyson Boehm had a great battle at No. 4 singles," said Habershaw. "Erin served the seventh game of the first set, trailing 4-2, and that game must've gone to deuce over a dozen times with both players delivering great shots. While her opponent outlasted her in the match, Erin may have played her best tennis of the season."
Boehm's 6-2,6-2 victory came when Phillips versus Cioffi and Jones versus Kerri Dunn [Middleton, Mass.] matches were in third sets with Salve Regina leading in both. Since the match was played to decision, Phillips and Jones' matches went unfinished.
Endicott (13-3) advances to play No. 2 seed Nichols College next Wednesday. Salve Regina (6-7) competes at the New England Women's Invitational Tennis Tournament this weekend to conclude its fall season.
Tennis Match Results
Salve Regina vs Endicott
10/14/09 at Beverly, Mass.
(South Campus Courts)
Endicott 5, Salve Regina 2
Singles competition
1. Erin Phillips (SRU) vs. Kate Cioffi (EC) 2-6, 6-3, 2-0, unfinished
2. Nicole Breting (EC) def. Jessica Timpano (SRU) 6-1, 6-1
3. Lori Wardner (EC) def. Valerie Leso (SRU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Alyson Boehm (EC) def. Erin Henriksen (SRU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Elise Jones (SRU) vs. Kerri Dunn (EC) 6-2, 4-6, 3-2, unfinished
6. Emily Annis (EC) def. Gina DeMaio (SRU) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Erin Phillips/Jessica Timpano (SRU) def. Kate Cioffi/Alyson Boehm (EC) 8-6
2. Nicole Breting/Lori Wardner (EC) def. Valerie Leso/Erin Henriksen (SRU) 8-0
3. Gina DeMaio/Elise Jones (SRU) def. Rachel Layton/Emily Annis (EC) 8-5
Match Notes:
Salve Regina 6-7
Endicott 13-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,2,6,4)
The Commonwealth Coast Conference Quarterfinals
Official: Diane Cortese T-2:22 A-33
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