Sophomore Victoria Barbetta posted wins at No. 2 singles and doubles today.

Barbetta and Downey lead Skyhawks with singles and doubles wins

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (April 17, 2016) – Stonehill College, ranked sixth in the first NCAA Division II East Regional rankings released last week, closed out its regular season schedule by edging Division I University of Hartford, 4-3, in non-conference women's tennis action at Hartford Tennis Courts this evening.

Sophomore Victoria Barbetta (Wesley Chapel, Florida/Saddlebrook Prep) and freshman Nicole Downey (Groveland, Massachusetts/Pentucket Regional) both collected singles and doubles wins to lead Stonehill to its second straight win – both against Division I programs. Downey and senior Bailey Paradiso (Birmingham, Michigan/Marian) combined to lead a sweep of the three doubles matches to clinch the Skyhawks point for doubles play with a 6-4 win at No. 1. Downey then rallied for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 triumph at No. 4 singles against Hartford sophomore Emily Lindsley (Cheshire, Connecticut/St. Paul Catholic).

Barbetta and classmate Emma Prinos (Foxboro, Massachusetts/Foxboro) teamed up for a 7-5 win at No. 2 doubles. Barbetta followed that up with a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles against senior Hannah Goldman (West Hempstead, New York/West Hempstead). Sophomore Janet Haas (Northbridge, Massachusetts/Northbridge) clinched the win for Stonehill with her 9-8 (7-1) victory at No. 6 singles against senior Angela Sabino (Cheshire, Connecticut/St. Paul Catholic).

Sophomore Janet Haas' win at No. 6 singles clinched the win for the Skyhawks.

Senior Caitlin McKinney (Braintree, Massachusetts/Braintree) and sophomore Melissa Parker (Madison, Connecticut/Daniel Hand) completed the doubles sweep for Stonehill with a 6-4 decision at No. 1. The teams played by the Division I rule where teams winning the majority of doubles matches earn one team point, while all singles matches also earn points.

Hartford, competing in its final varsity match, won three of the six singles matches. Junior Emily Sneddon (London, Ontario/Oakridge Secondary) topped Paradiso at No. 1 singles 6-2, 6-2. Freshman Karolina Pilip (New Britain, Connecticut/New Britain) recorded a 6-3, 6-2 win over Prinos and No. 3, while senior Gianna Sabino (Cheshire, Connecticut/St. Paul Catholic) defeated freshman Courtenay Cavett (Plano, Texas/Ursuline Academy of Dallas) 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 at No. 5.

Stonehill (15-9, 10-2 NE-10) which is in position to earn an NCAA Tournament bid with its No. 6 ranking in the first NCAA Division II East Regional ranking of the spring, released on Wednesday, now awaits the NCAA Selection Show at the end of the month to learn if it has earned a tenth NCAA bid. Hartford wraps up its final varsity season with a 5-15 record.

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