Merrimack Edges Women's Tennis, 4-3

Merrimack

Stonehill

Doubles

C. SolorzanoValencia / Anneliese Beltran (STO)
def. Dzhastina Mikhnova / Nikala Tuffanelli (MER)

6-3

Allyson Nerf / G Martins Cavalcante (MER)
def. Steffi Antao / Jenna Gustafson (STO)

6-3

Caitlin McLoughlin / Raya Parker Johnson (MER)
def. C. ZuluagaRodriguez / Marissa Such (STO)

6-3

Singles

Dzhastina Mikhnova (MER)
def. C. SolorzanoValencia (STO)

2-6, 6-4, 6-3

Steffi Antao (STO)
def. Allyson Nerf (MER)

6-4, 6-0

Anneliese Beltran (STO)
def. Nikala Tuffanelli (MER)

7-6 (8-6), 6-2

C. ZuluagaRodriguez (STO)
def. G Martins Cavalcante (MER)

6-3, 6-2

Caitlin McLoughlin (MER)
def. Marissa Such (STO)

6-4, 6-2

Luisa Eslava (MER)
def. Jenna Gustafson (STO)

6-2, 6-3

full stats

Beltran was a double-winner for the Skyhawks at No. 1 doubles and No. 3 singles. (PHOTO BY Stew Milne)

McLoughlin leads Warriors as double-winner, including match decider at No. 5 singles

WALPOLE, Mass. (March 12, 2023) – Merrimack College secured two vital wins at the bottom of the lineup, as well as a key three-set triumph at No. 1 singles to collect a 4-3 decision over Stonehill College in a Northeast Conference women's tennis match at The Wimbledon 109 Tennis Club this afternoon.

Highlights

Freshman Caitlin McLoughlin was a double-winner to lead Merrimack, securing the deciding point with her win at No. 5 singles.
Freshman Anneliese Beltran was a double-winner for Stonehill, combining with senior Cristina Solorzano Valencia for a win at No. 1 doubles. Beltran followed that up with a victory at No. 3 singles that had the Skyhawks in front 3-1 at the time.
Sophomore Dzhastina Mikhnova and senior Luisa Eslava also notched singles wins for the Warriors.
Stonehill also got singles victories from senior Steffi Antao and freshman Camila Zuluaga Rodriguez.

How It Happened

McLoughlin and junior Raya Parker Johnson clinched the doubles point for Merrimack with their 6-3 win at No. 3 as the Warriors also got a doubles win at No. 2 by senior Allyson Nerf and freshman Giulia Martins Cavalcante.
Stonehill won the first three singles matches to go final and grabbed a 3-1 match lead, starting with Antao's 6-4, 6-0 triumph at No. 2 against Nerf.
Zuluaga Rodriguez followed that with her 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles against Martins Cavalcante, while Beltran posted a 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 win at No. 3 against junior Nikala Tuffanelli.
Mikhnova battled back from a set down to post a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 triumph at No. 1 singles against Solorzano Valencia that sparked the Warriors comeback.
Eslava followed that up with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 6 singles and then McLoughlin completed the comeback with her 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 5 against Stonehill sophomore Marissa Such.

Up Next

Stonehill (4-7, 0-4 NEC) is back in action in two weeks, when it visits Rider University for a non-conference match on Saturday, March 25. Merrimack (2-7, 1-1 NEC) hosts Saint Francis (Pa.) University next Sunday, March 19, at noon.

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