Freshman Victoria Barbetta earned wins at No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles to help lead the Skyhawks to victory.

Lawrence a double-winner on Senior Day to help lead Skyhawks 

EASTON, Mass. (October 11, 2014) – Stonehill College, ranked ninth in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II East Regional rankings, picked up a key victory with a 6-3 decision over Merrimack College, ranked sixth in the region, in Northeast-10 Conference women's tennis action in the Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex today.

Senior Meryl Lawrence (North Scituate, Rhode Island/Mount Saint Charles Academy) and freshmen Victoria Barbetta (Wesley Chapel, Florida/Saddlebrook Prep) and Colleen O'Donnell (Waterville, Maine/Waterville) were all double-winners to lead Stonehill to their second straight win. Lawrence celebrated her senior day with a pair of wins at No. 3 doubles and No. 5 singles. She combined with O'Donnell for an 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles as the Skyhawks claimed two of the three doubles matches. Lawrence added a 6-4, 6-1 decision over Merrimack freshman Mackenzie Blair (Thomaston, Connecticut/Thomaston), while O'Donnell breezed to a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 6 against freshman Abbey Bryant (North Brookfield, Massachusetts/David Prouty).

Barbetta and junior Analise Kump (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) teamed up for an 8-3 win at No. 2 doubles for Stonehill. Barbetta added a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 4 singles against senior Rachel Muller (North Andover, Massachusetts/North Andover), while freshman Emma Prinos (Foxboro, Massachusetts/Foxboro) earned a point for the Skyhawks with her 6-2, 6-1 win over freshman Danielle Dunn (Middleton, Massachusetts/Middleton) at No. 3 singles.

Senior Meryl Lawrence and her family with the Skyhawks coaching staff on Senior Day.

Senior Chealsey Giatrellis (Centerville, Massachusetts/Barnstable) and sophomore Grace Messina (Caracas, Venezuela) combined to earn all three of Merrimack's points in the match. The duo combined to edge Prinos and junior Bailey Paradiso (Birmingham, Michigan/Marian) at No. 1 doubles. Messina followed with a 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 1 singles against Paradiso, while Giatrellis battled past Kump 7-5, 3-6, 10-5 at No. 2.

Stonehill (8-1, 8-1 NE-10) is back in action on Tuesday, when it visits Southern New Hampshire University, ranked tenth in the region, for a big NE-10 match at 3 p.m. The Skyhawks return home next Friday, October 17, to host rival Bentley University in their regular season finale at Charles Watt Tennis Courts at 3 p.m. Merrimack (8-4, 7-4 NE-10) closes out its regular season schedule tomorrow when it hosts Le Moyne College at 10 a.m.

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