O'Donnell clinched the win for the Skyhawks with her point at No. 6 singles. |
Sixth-seeded Skyhawks post four singles wins to erase doubles deficit
FLUSHING, N.Y. (April 28, 2018) – Sixth-seeded Stonehill College, ranked No. 46 in this week's Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II national rankings, rallied from a doubles deficit by winning four of six singles matches to claim a 5-3 triumph over third-seeded and No. 48-ranked New York Institute of Technology in first round action of the 2018 NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Tournament's East Regional, hosted by Queens (N.Y.) College, at the Queens Tennis Center today.
Stonehill (15-4, 12-0 NE10), which earns its first NCAA Tournament win since 2011, advances to face second-seeded and host Queens (10-4, 7-0 ECC), ranked No. 44 nationally, in tomorrow's second round at noon. The winner of that match will earn a spot at the NCAA Division II Championships in Surprise, Arizona, May 8-11. NYIT, which had reached the "Sweet 16" five-straight years, sees its season come to a close with a 10-7 record overall, including 4-3 in the East Coast Conference, to make its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance.
Senior Colleen O'Donnell (Waterville, Maine/Waterville) capped the comeback for Stonehill with her 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 6 singles against NYIT junior Ann-Kathrin Zilles (Friedrichshafen, Germany). It marks the Skyhawks first NCAA Tournament win since an identical 5-3 score line against Goldey-Beacom College in the first round in 2011.
Porter knocked off the region's #7-ranked singles player to spark the comeback at No. 3. |
Freshman Isabelle Porter (Jupiter, Florida/William T. Dwyer) provided the spark to Stonehill's comeback by knocking off NYIT sophomore Ivana Andric (Greisheim, Germany), ranked No. 7 in the Oracle/ITA East Region singles rankings, at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-0 for the Skyhawks first singles point. Junior Nicole Downey (Groveland, Massachusetts/Pentucket Regional) and freshman Kate Cunningham (Somerset, England/IMG Academy (Fla.)) also earned points for the Skyhawks at No. 5 and No. 4 singles, respectively.
Sophomore Caroline Ray (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) and freshman Bethany Hammond (Belgrade, Maine/St. Dominic) earned Stonehill's lone doubles point with their 8-3 win at No. 3.
Postgrad Alessia Rossetti (Minusio, Switzerland) was a double-winner to lead NYIT in her final collegiate match. She teamed up with freshman Kaitlyn Byrnes (Massapequa, New York/Plainedge) for an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles for the Bears, and then added a 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 2 singles against Stonehill sophomore Alexandra Vo (Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania/Nazareth Academy). Senior Lena Dimmer (Wallendorf-Pont, Luxembourg) and Andric paired up for an 8-4 win at No. 1 doubles for NYIT.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
