NEWPORT, R.I.—UMass Boston women's tennis jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, en-route to tenth-year head coach Eric Berg earning his 50th win as head of the program on Sunday.
THE BASICS
UMass Boston 5, Salve Regina 4
(UMass Boston 8-10
(Salve Regina 2-10)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Berg, who won his 100th match as coach of both UMass Boston programs in the women's tennis opener in August, became the first coach in women's tennis program history to reach 50 wins. The all-time winningest coach in program history improved to 50-94 in 10 seasons as head coach.
Sunday's win also marked the team's eight win, matching the highest win total for a single-season under Berg. The 2010 team also finished with eight wins (8-8).
Junior Kristy Garcia (Miami, Fla.) played a big part in the victory, as she was the lone Beacon to finish 2-0.
Freshman Valeria Tueme (Easton, Mass.) and sophomore Meghan Erickson (Hubbardston, Mass.) opened the match with an 8-2 victory at third-flight doubles.
The Beacons doubled their lead at number one doubles, as Garcia and freshman Katie Gauthier (West Boylston, Mass.) claimed an 8-2 win.
At number two doubles, Kelsey Shea (West Bridgewater, Mass.) and Kathleen Conroy (Quincy, Mass.) went the distance with Anna Godshalk and Abigail Burke. In the end, the Seahawks pairing earned a 9-8 (7-2) win, to cut the Beacons' lead to 2-1.
UMass Boston quickly pushed the lead out to 4-1 to start singles play.
Junior Maria Benatuil (Caracas, Venezuela) earned her fourth win of the season at number six singles, when she picked up a 6-2, 6-1 win.
Shea would have an even easier time at number five singles, as the senior earned a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of Shealyn FitzPatrick.
Godshalk would cut the deficit back to 4-2, when the sophomore defeated Erickson 6-2, 6-1 at number four singles.
UMass Boston would clinch the match victory at number one singles. Garcia earned a 6-0, 6-3 win, to improve to 8-8 at number one singles.
Salve Regina would make the final decision more respectable-with wins at second and third singles.
Burke defeated Conroy 6-2, 6-3 at number two singles, while Taylor Amendola held off Gauthier 3-6, 6-4, 10-8 in a third-set super tiebreaker at third-flight singles.
BY THE NUMBERS
- The Beacons eight wins are tied for the second-most victories in a single-season in program history. The 2001 team finished 10-3.
- Sunday's matchup marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
- Garcia moved into second-place in program history for career singles wins with the 23rd win of her career. She trails only assistant coach Anitra Kloczewiak ('13) who won 37 matches in her career.
WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston will play their final dual match of the season next Sunday, when they host Emerson College at 1 p.m.
