BOSTON, Mass. – For the first-time ever in program history women's tennis defeated Plymouth State University on their home courts as they handed the Panthers a 5-4 Little East Conference decision Saturday afternoon at BC High School Tennis Courts.
THE BASICS
UMass Boston 5, Plymouth State University 4
UMass Boston (3-3, 2-1 Little East Conference)
Plymouth State University (3-3, 2-2 Little East Conference)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beacons got their afternoon off on a great note as they picked-up a pair of wins in doubles play. After dropping an 8-4 decision at first doubles, the teams of Kelsey Shea (West Bridgewater, Mass.) and Vicky Woytowicz (Springfield, Mass.) and Kathleen Conroy (Quincy, Mass.) and Valeria Tueme (Easton, Mass.) earned 8-6 and 9-7 wins at second and third doubles respectively. Shea and Woytowicz, who trailed 6-3 at one point in their doubles match, fought their way back to give the Beacons the early 2-1 lead heading into singles play.
The star of singles play on Saturday had to be Meghan Erickson (Hubbardston, Mass.), who successfully avenged her loss to Plymouth State from a year ago. The junior pounded out a win at fifth singles in the form a 6-0, 6-4 decision. Also picking-up what turned out to be the key win was Shea. Trailing 2-3 in the third set, Shea ended up pulling out the huge win for UMass Boston. She closed out the match with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win at sixth singles.
Katie Gauthier (West Boylston, Mass.) also had an impressive showing against the Panthers as she cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 win at third singles.
BY THE NUMBERS
- UMass Boston has now won twice in the last four meetings with Plymouth State
- Now on the year Erickson is 4-2 at fifth singles, and has won two straight matches
- Shea has now won three straight matches at sixth singles and is 5-1 on the year
- Shea and Woytowicz improved to 3-3 on the year at second doubles and won their second straight match on Saturday
WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will travel to Southern Maine on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. conference match.
