Downey's win at No. 4 singles clinched the team win for the Skyhawks.

Barbetta leads Skyhawks with big wins at No. 1 singles and doubles

EASTON, Mass. (September 19, 2017) – Stonehill College, ranked No. 6 in the latest Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II East Regional rankings, kept rolling along in the early part of the fall season with a 9-0 victory over the University of New Haven in Northeast-10 Conference women's tennis action inside the Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex this afternoon.

Senior Victoria Barbetta (Wesley Chapel, Florida/Saddlebrook Prep (Fla.)) led three double-winners for Stonehill, keyed by a 7-6 (7-1), 6-0 triumph at No. 1 singles against New Haven freshman Stephanie Gonzales (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico), who had entered the match with a 5-0 start to her collegiate career. Barbetta also teamed up with freshman Isabelle Porter (Jupiter, Florida/William T. Dwyer) for an 8-4 win at No. 1 doubles against Gonzales and freshman Lilia Rodriguez (Bayamon, Puerto Rico). Porter improved her collegiate start to 5-0 in singles play with a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 3 singles against junior Caitlyn Burridge (Center Moriches, New York/Center Moriches).

Sophomore Alexandra Vo (Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania/Nazareth Academy) rounded out Stonehill's double-winners as she teamed up with classmate Annelise Howick (Jacksonville, Florida/Creekside) for a quick 8-0 win at No. 2 doubles. Vo followed that up with a 6-2, 6-1 decision at No. 2 singles against Rodriguez. Junior Nicole Downey (Groveland, Massachusetts/Pentucket Regional), senior captain Janet Haas (Northbridge, Massachusetts/Northbridge) and sophomore Caroline Ray (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) all chipped in with singles wins for the Skyhawks. Downey provided the clinching fifth point for the Skyhawks with her 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 4 singles against junior Ashley Varrone (Shelton, Connecticut/Shelton).

Stonehill (5-0, 3-0 NE10) returns to action this weekend when it competes at the USTA/ITA Division II East Regionals, hosted by Adelphi University and Queens University, at the USTA National Training Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, Saturday through Monday. The Skyhawks return home on Saturday, September 30, to host Saint Anselm College at 2 p.m. New Haven (1-5, 0-4 NE10) visits Saint Anselm on Sunday at noon.

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