Hammond earned wins at No. 3 doubles and No. 5 singles for the Skyhawks. |
Hammond leads Skyhawks with singles and doubles wins
WALTHAM, Mass. (April 5, 2018) – Brandeis University, ranked No. 21 in the latest Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division III National rankings, rallied from a 2-1 deficit after doubles play to claim a 6-3 victory over Stonehill College, ranked No. 43 in this week's Oracle/ITA Division II National Rankings and No. 5 in the NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, in non-conference women's tennis action this evening.
Junior Olivia Leavitt (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) led the way for Brandeis as a double-winner. She teamed up with freshman Lauren Bertsch (Middletown, Rhode Island/LaSalle Academy) to claim the Judges lone doubles decision with an 8-2 win at No. 1. Leavitt followed that up by helping Brandeis rally from the doubles deficit by winning five of the six singles matches with her 6-1, 6-1 victory over Stonehill junior Nicole Downey (Groveland, Massachusetts/Pentucket Regional) at No. 4 singles.
Senior Haley Cohen (Cherry Hill, New Jersey/Laurel Springs) clinched the comeback win for Brandeis in come-from-behind fashion herself at No. 2 singles against Stonehill sophomore Alexandra Vo (Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania/Nazareth Academy). Vo took the opening set 6-1, but Cohen forced a third set by a break in the second (7-5) and then capped the rally with a 6-3 third. Junior Keren Khromchenko (Manalapan, New Jersey/Academy of Allied Health and Science), sophomore Sabrina Ross Neergaard (Port Orchard, Washington/Laurel Springs Prep) and freshman Rachel Zubrinsky (Waxhaw, North Carolina/Marvin Ridge) also earned singles wins for the Judges.
Freshman Bethany Hammond (Belgrade, Maine/St. Dominic) was a double-winner to lead the way for Stonehill. She teamed up with sophomore Caroline Ray (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) for a commanding 8-1 win at No. 3 doubles and then rallied from a set down to defeat Bertsch 3-6, 6-4, 11-9 at No. 5 singles. Senior Victoria Barbetta (Wesley Chapel, Florida/Saddlebrook Prep) and freshman Kate Cunningham (Somerset, England/IMG Academy (Fla.)) clinched the Skyhawks 2-1 edge after doubles play with their 9-7 win at No. 2.
Stonehill (14-4, 12-0 NE10) had its match at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia scheduled for Saturday, postponed. No makeup has been announced. The 2018 NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Championships field will be announced on Tuesday, April 24, at 8:30 p.m. Brandeis (7-3, 0-0 UAA) visits New York University on Saturday at noon.
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