DANBURY, Conn.—UMass Boston women's tennis won five of six singles matches to overcome an early 2-1 deficit and record the program's first four-match winning streak since 2001.
THE BASICS
UMass Boston 6, Western Connecticut State University 3
(UMass Boston 5-3, Little East 4-1)
(Western Connecticut State 3-6, Little East 0-4)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Junior Kristy Garcia (Miami, Fla.) fought back from a big deficit in the first set at first singles to clinch the match victory, with both of the final two matches still very much undecided.
Senior Kelsey Shea (Bridgewater, Mass.) was the lone Beacon to go undefeated, as she picked up wins at second doubles and fifth singles. With her two wins, Shea moved into second place in program history for total wins with 48.
With the victory, UMass Boston women's tennis earned their first four-match winning streak since 2001-when the team went 10-3 and won their final four matches of the season. The Beacons also tied last year's team for the most conference wins in a single-season with four.
Western Connecticut State got off on the right foot Tuesday, as they continued their search for the program's first Little East Conference win of the season.
After Shea and Kathleen Conroy (Quincy, Mass.) earned a dominating 8-1 win at second singles, the Colonials came back to win at first and third doubles. The hosts top pair picked up an 8-2 win, and Sarah Warkoski and Carine Jacque just barely held off Meghan Erickson (Hubbardston, Mass.) and Valeria Tueme (Easton, Mass.) 8-6 at third doubles.
UMass Boston wouldn't be deterred though, as they answered back with four-straight singles wins to earn the match victory.
Junior Maria Benatuil (Caracas, Venezuela) started the run with a 6-0, 6-0 blanking of Pooja Dudhedua at sixth singles.
Erickson earned a 6-0, 6-0 win of her own, as she gave the Beacons a 3-2 lead with her win at fourth singles.
The Beacons stretched the lead out to 4-2 at fifth singles, when Shea cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 victory.
Garcia clinched the match win after a battle at number one singles. Western Connecticut State' Emma Chapman opened their match by winning the first five games, only to have Garcia race back to claim the first set 7-5. From there it was all Garcia, as she won the match 7-5, 6-1 to make it 5-2 Beacons.
Carole Allers earned the final point of the day for the Colonials at second singles, when she defeated Conroy 6-3, 6-3.
In the final match of the day, Katie Gauthier (West Boylston, Mass.) held off Jacque 6-1, 2-6, 10-7 in a third set super tiebreaker.
BY THE NUMBERS
- The Beacons 5-3 start is their best start to open a season since the 2010 team went 6-2 through their first eight matches.
- UMass Boston earned their sixth-straight win over the Colonials, and improved to 7-8 against Western Connecticut State all time.
- The Beacons played without senior Vicky Woytowicz (Springfield, Mass.) for as second-consecutive match.
- Shea broke a tie with Sabine Van Vlerken ('01) with her doubles victory to move into sole possession of second-place in program history for total wins (48). Shea also stands second in total doubles wins with 27.
WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston will take on preseason LEC favorites Rhode Island College on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in Providence. That match was originally scheduled for this past Saturday, but was postponed due to heavy rain.
