BOSTON, Mass. – Four sweeps in five matches. That's how UMass Boston Women's Tennis has been able to sum up their historic season thus far with their best start in program history and just one sweep away from tying the single season record for most sweeps in a season at five.

Although rain delayed and moved from BC High Tennis Courts, that would not stop the Beacons from ripping off their 19^th consecutive home win since 2018, 9-0, over Little East Conference opponent Salem State University on Saturday night.

THE BASICS

UMass Boston 9, Salem State University 0 

UMass Boston (5-1, 4-0 LEC)

Salem State University (1-7, 1-3 LEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

In the doubles matches, juniors Lydia Chan and Meagan Carney swept through junior Samantha Tenney and sophomore Abbie Laliberte, 8-0, in the #1 Doubles to secure the first victory of the day for the Beacons.

Sophomores Elena Albano and Ayonna Stuppard followed suit with a strong showing of their own, defeating freshman Kenzie McLaren and sophomore Miah Reyes, 8-2, in the #2 Doubles. Senior Lia Vassiliadis and freshman Ayra Shaikh made quick work in the #3 Doubles as well, taking down freshman Annalise Catalini and sophomore Erin Curristin, 8-1.

Facing off against Tenney again, this time in the #1 Singles, Lydia Chan quickly took care of business with a 6-0 first set and 6-1 second set to notch another victory for UMass Boston while Ayra Shaikh blanked Miah Reyes in consecutive sets, 6-0, in the #2 Doubles.

A close match early on, Elena Albano quickly found her groove to defeat McLaren in straight sets, 6-2, and 6-1, in the #3 Singles while Ayonna Stuppard took the #4 Singles by identical 6-2 scores in both sets.

Lia Vassiliadis shook off some early season rust, showing why she has racked up the honors in the all-time record book with two 6-0 sets in the #5 Singles over Catalini. Rounding out the day was junior Skylar Robles making her season debut and winning in the #6 Singles, 6-2 and 6-1, over Curristin.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Freshman Ayra Shaikh continues to shine on the court, polishing off a 2-1 week in the Singles in which she dropped one point across four sets in her wins. The one loss came against undefeated Roger Williams University, 4-6 and 5-7
• Transfer sophomore Ayonna Stuppard cannot be stopped by anybody, going a combined 6-0 this week (3-0 in Singles, 3-0 in Doubles), including a thriller against Roger Williams University on Thursday in three sets
• The Beacons have won four of their first five matches by sweeps for the first time in program history and are one sweep away from tying the single season program record of five
• Homecooking has been the name of the game for UMass Boston who has now won 19 consecutive home games dating back to 2018

 
WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons play their second of three consecutive home matches on Tuesday afternoon against Regis College at 4:00 PM. The match is a make-up date after rain postponed the original date of September 13^th. The Beacons are 3-7 all-time versus the Rangers and have dropped their last two matches against them.