Senior Kirsti Toegemann and freshman Nicole Downey earned a huge point for the Skyhawks at No. 3 doubles. |
Barbetta & Downey are double-winners, Prinos claims clinching point
EASTON, Mass. (October 21, 2015) – Third-seeded Stonehill College, ranked sixth in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II East Regional rankings, opened defense of its Conference championship with a 5-1 victory over sixth-seeded Le Moyne College in first round action of the 2015 Northeast-10 Women's Tennis Tournament at Charles Watt Tennis Courts this afternoon.
Stonehill (12-3, 10-2 NE-10) advances to Friday's NE-10 semifinal round where it will visit second-seeded Southern New Hampshire University (11-1, 11-1 NE-10) at 2 p.m. The winner will advance to Sunday's NE-10 Championship match, hosted by the highest remaining seed, at 1 p.m. Le Moyne sees its fall season come to a close with an 8-7 record overall, including 7-5 in Northeast-10 play.
Sophomore Victoria Barbetta (Wesley Chapel, Florida/Saddlebrook Prep) and freshman Nicole Downey (Groveland, Massachusetts/Pentucket Regional) led Stonehill to its 14th straight semifinal appearance with wins in singles and doubles play. Sophomore Emma Prinos (Foxboro, Massachusetts/Foxboro) clinched the win for the Skyhawks with her 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 6 singles against Le Moyne sophomore Autumn Hogan (Rochester, New York/Aquinas Institute).
Downey and senior Kirsti Toegemann (Narragansett, Rhode Island/The Lincoln School) clinched a key 2-1 edge for Stonehill following doubles play when they reeled off the final three games to capture a 9-7 victory at No. 3 doubles against sophomore Rithika Vajjiravelu (Chennal, India) and senior Kennedy Langlois (Montgomery, New York/Valley Central). The Dolphins tandem had won back to back games for a 7-6 edge in the match before Downey and Toegmann earned a vital break of serve in the 14th game of the set before Downey held serve and then clinched the match with a second straight break.
Downey also earned Stonehill's first singles point with her 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 5 against senior Allison Jones (Utica, New York/Notre Dame). Barbetta and senior Analise Kump (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) teamed up for an 8-3 win at No. 2 doubles and then Barbetta drew the Skyhawks within a point of the match win with her 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 4 singles against junior Christina Perry (Endwell, New York/Seton Catholic).
Sophomore Amica Benoit Limosani (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec/College Saint-Maurice) and freshman Tiffany Dun (Templestowe, Australia) combined to earn Le Moyne's lone point with their 8-3 victory at No. 1 doubles.
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