April 22, 2007

WOMEN'S TENNIS WINS FOURTH-STRAIGHT NE-10 TITLE

2007 Northeast-10 Conference Champions !

EASTON, Mass. - The Bryant University women's tennis team captured its fourth-straight Northeast-10 Conference tournament championship Sunday, defeating top-seed Saint Michael's 5-3 in the final.  Bryant entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed and proceeded to knock off the No. 2 (Bentley) and the No. 1 team in the tourney. 

Against the Purple Knights, a team Bryant had knocked off 6-3 back in September, the Bulldogs had to rally back from a 2-1 deficit after doubles play opened the match.  Sacha Solomon (Bourne, Mass.) cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 win over Cara Bednar at No. 1 singles while Michelle Burke (Barrington, Mass.) and Kristen Swanson (West Newbury, Mass.) each came up big with wins at No. 3 and No. 4 singles respectively. 

But just as last year's champion match against Stonehill came down to No. 5 singles, Lauren Mullen (Braintree, Mass.) came through once again, bouncing back from a 6-3 first set loss to defeat Megan Conway 6-2 and 6-1 to clinch the victory for the Bulldogs. 

The selection for the NCAA tournament will take place this Wednesday (April 25) with first and second round regional play set to begin May 3-5 at a site to be determined.

Bryant 5, Saint Michael's 3

Singles Results
1. Sacha Solomon (B) def. Cara Bednar (STM), 6-0, 6-2
2. Annette Jervasi (B) vs. Lindsay Horne (STM), DNF (4-6, 6-4, 2-2)
3. Michelle Burke (B) def. Caile Burns (STM), 6-1, 6-0
4. Kristen Swanson (B) def. Liz Clemente (STM), 6-2, 6-1
5. Lauren Mullen (B) def. Megan Conway (STM), 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
6. Jackie Smullen (STM) def. Heather Fedesco (B), 6-2, 6-3

Doubles Results
1. Solomon / Jervasi (B) def. Burns/Conway (STM), 8-5
2. Horne/Bednar (STM) def. Burke / Mullen (B), 8-6
3. Smullen/Clemente (STM) def. Swanson / Shea Crosby (B), 8-4

Final Score: Bryant 5, Saint Michael's 3