Alvarez won at No. 3 singles and doubles, rallying from a set down to win her singles match. |
Alvarez and O'Donnell earn singles and doubles wins as Skyhawks sew up top seed for upcoming NE-10 Tournament
WORCESTER, Mass. (October 8, 2016) – Stonehill College, ranked sixth in the Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II East Regional rankings, clinched at least a share of its seventh Northeast-10 Conference regular season championship with a 6-3 triumph over second place Assumption College in NE-10 women's tennis action at Assumption Tennis Courts today.
The win clinches at least a share of Stonehill's seventh Northeast-10 regular season championship in program history – its first since sharing the title with Adelphi University and Southern New Hampshire University in 2012. The Skyhawks also clinch the top seed for the upcoming NE-10 Tournament with today's win as it leads Assumption and Southern New Hampshire by two full games in the loss column with two dual matches remaining and now hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against both.
Junior Colleen O'Donnell (Waterville, Maine/Waterville) and freshman Carolina Alvarez (Orlando, Florida/Freedom) led Stonehill to the title clinching win with singles and doubles wins. The duo combined for the Skyhawks lone doubles point with their 8-6 decision at No. 3. O'Donnell equalized the match at two points apiece with her 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 6 singles against Assumption senior Kristen Carbone (Taunton, Massachusetts/Coyle & Cassidy). Alvarez rallied from a set down for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 triumph over sophomore Paige Benoit (Holden, Massachusetts/St. Peter Marian) at No. 3 singles in the final match of the day on the courts.
Junior Cassie Burbine (Londonderry, New Hampshire/Londonderry) was the lone double-winner for Assumption. She combined with senior Hannah Riley (Ellington, Connecticut/Ellington) to clinch a 2-1 Greyhounds edge after doubles play by grinding out a 9-8 (13-11) decision at No. 1. Burbine earned Assumption's lone singles point with her 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 1 against Stonehill junior Victoria Barbetta (Wesley Chapel, Florida/Saddlebrook Prep).
Prinos provided the clinching point with her win at No. 5 singles. |
Freshman Alexandra Vo (Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania/Nazareth Academy) gave Stonehill its first lead of the match (3-2) as she improved to 10-0 in singles play for the fall with her 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 2 over Riley. After Burbine's win at No. 1 singles, junior Emma Prinos (Foxboro, Massachusetts/Foxboro) and sophomore Nicole Downey (Groveland, Massachusetts/Pentucket Regional) clinched the Skyhawks win with their victories at No. 5 and 4 singles, respectively. Downey improved to 10-0 this fall in singles play with her 6-2, 6-3 win over freshman Maria Monje (Worcester, Massachusetts/Holy Name), while Prinos delivered the clinching point with her 6-2, 6-3 win against freshman Camille Latoni (San Juan, Puerto Rico).
Benoit and Carbone collected the first point of the day with their 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles against Prinos and Downey.
Stonehill (10-1, 10-0 NE-10) is right back in action tomorrow when it can clinch the NE-10 regular season title outright at defending Conference champions Adelphi at 10 a.m. The Skyhawks return home next Saturday, October 15, to host The College of Saint Rose for Senior Day at noon. Assumption (10-2, 9-2 NE-10) visits Gordon College on Monday for a non-conference match at 4 p.m.
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