Skyhawks win regular-season home finale, earn 10th conference victory

EASTON, Mass. (April 12, 2011) – Stonehill College, currently ranked fourth in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II East Regional poll, swept Merrimack College 9-0 this afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference match at home.

Five Skyhawks turned in victories at both singles and doubles as Stonehill improved their conference record to 10-1 with two matches remaining. Senior Lindsey Herchel (Hampden, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) and sophomore Paige Frost (Brigantine, N.J./Holy Spirit), playing their first match together this season, led off with an 8-2 decision at No. 1 doubles. Junior Leah White (Walpole, Mass./Bishop Feehan) and freshman Kaitlyn Martin (Medway, Mass./Medway) pulled out an 8-5 win at No. 2, and junior Amy Toegemann (Narragansett, R.I./The Lincoln School) and sophomore Chelsea Haedrich (Islip, N.Y./Islip) were 8-1 winners in the third slot to run their winning streak to seven matches.

Herchel also cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 win over Merrimack's Kara Hole at No. 1 singles, while Toegemann outlasted Courtney Garvey at No. 2. White blanked Alyx Barnes 6-0, 6-0 in the third spot, Frost won her second of the day at No. 4 to improve her spotless NE-10 record to 11-0, and Martin overpowered Kylie Waddington 8-1 at fifth singles. Junior Sarah Hickey (Lee, Mass./Lee) closed out the match with a dominant 8-0 victory at No. 6 to preserve the shutout for the Skyhawks.

Stonehill (14-2, 10-1 NE-10), ranked second in the NE-10 standings, visits St. Michael's College tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. for a crucial matchup with the Purple Knights, sitting just behind Stonehill in third place. The Skyhawks will conclude the regular season Saturday at Saint Anselm College.