BOSTON, Mass.—Playing without two of their starters, UMass Boston (2-7, 0-5 Little East Conference) couldn't quite keep up with the defending champion Salem State University Vikings (5-2, 5-0 LEC) Friday afternoon, falling 8-1 at the BC High School Tennis Courts.
Imani Williams (Roxbury, Mass.) claimed the only victory for UMass Boston at number two singles, when Maddy Ward had to forfeit due to injury for the Vikings.
The sophomore teamed up with Samantha Counts (Bridgewater, Mass.) who played at number one singles for the first time this year. Counts and Williams fell 8-1 at number one doubles and Counts dropped her number one singles match 6-0, 6-2 to Michelle McEwen.
At number two doubles, Jessica Spinale and Anna Yaskell took the first point of the day, when they defeated Solveig Castelli (Precojo, France) and Stephony Reeves (Dorchester, Mass.) 8-0. Reeves would go on to fall 6-0, 6-0 at number three singles, while Castelli lost 6-1, 6-2 at number four singles.
Ngoc Le (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) and Cindy Lee comprised the final doubles pair. The freshman duo fell 8-0 at the hands of April McDermott and Tara Garvey.
In singles play, Lee dropped her number five singles match 6-1, 6-1, while junior Lily Phan (Malden, Mass.) made her Beacons debut. Phan fell 6-1, 6-1 to Lauren Woods, as she became the tenth member of the team to play in a match.
UMass Boston will return to the court on Tuesday, when they travel to take on Western Connecticut State University at 4 p.m. Tuesday's match marks the start of the busiest week of the Beacons season, as they will play on three consecutive days, and four matches in a week.
