Skyhawks await NCAA tournament selections next week

Paige Frost was the Skyhawks' singles winner at No. 4.

GOFFSTOWN, N.H. (April 23, 2011) – Top-seeded Southern New Hampshire University, ranked 29th in the current Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II national poll, won their second consecutive Northeast-10 Conference women’s tennis title with a 5-2 victory over second-seeded Stonehill College, currently fourth in the ITA East Regional rankings, in the NE-10 championship match Saturday afternoon.

Southern New Hampshire took a 2-1 advantage in doubles competition to open the match. Amber Chandronnait and Catalina Echeverry defeated Lindsey Herchel (Hampden, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) and Jacquelyn Harrow (North Reading, Mass./North Reading) 8-0 at No. 1, while Kirsten Jean and Alena Mukdaprakorn won at No. 2 over Leah White (Walpole, Mass./Bishop Feehan) and Kaitlyn Martin (Medway, Mass./Medway). The duo of Amy Toegemann (Narragansett, R.I./The Lincoln School) and Chelsea Haedrich (Islip, N.Y./Islip) collected their 12th consecutive victory with an 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles over Samantha Jean and Kara Pease.

Chandronnait, ranked 22nd nationally in singles play, opened the singles slate with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Herchel at No. 1. Mukdaprakorn was also a double winner for the Penmen, taking the second spot with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Toegemann. Paige Frost (Brigantine, N.J./Holy Spirit) posted Stonehill’s singles win at No. 4, powering past Samantha Jean 6-2, 6-0.

The Penmen clinched the repeat title when Echeverry pulled out a 7-5, 6-3 win over White at No. 3 singles to close out the match.

White and Sarah Hickey (Lee, Mass./Lee) were named to the All-Championship Team, Hickey for the third straight year. Chandronnait, Mukdaprakorn, and Echeverry represented the Penmen.

Stonehill (18-3, 12-1 NE-10) awaits the NCAA Division II Tennis Championship selections on Wednesday, as the Skyhawks seek their third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance and sixth overall.