BOSTON, Mass. – For the first time in the 27-year history of the program, UMass Boston Women's Tennis are Little East Conference Champions after downing the Rhode Island College dynasty that had won five consecutive LEC titles and was appearing in their seventh straight championship match, 5-2, on the BC High Tennis Courts.

THE BASICS

UMass Boston 5, Rhode Island College 2

UMass Boston (11-1)

Rhode Island College (11-2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

Freshman Ayra Shaikh and junior Yana Semerly took the #2 Doubles in dominant fashion against sophomore Amara Devine and junior Amiah Sommer for the second consecutive week, 8-1 to give UMass Boston their first victory of the day.

In the #1 Singles, juniors Lydia Chan and Meagan Carney pulled off an upset win over senior Jenna Lisi and junior Lauren Macera, 8-6, putting the Beacons in the driver seat, 2-0, after two doubles. Coming into the match, Lisi had not lost a doubles match outside of the NCAA Tournament since her freshman season against Salem State, winning 38 consecutive doubles matches since then, and including the NCAA Tournament going 49-3 entering the day in her career for doubles.

The third rematch from last weekend would also go the Beacons way as sophomores Elena Albano and Ayonna Stuppard knocked off freshman Erica Botelho and senior Serena Bobola, 8-7, in the #3 Doubles after going to a tiebreaker set. After falling behind 6-3 in the tiebreaker, Albano and Stuppard would come back to win it as UMass Boston swept Rhode Island College in the doubles, 3-0.

On the verge of their first title, Shaikh took down Botelho for the second straight week in the #3 Singles, 6-1 and 6-1 to bring the Beacons within one win of the LEC crown.

The Anchorwomen would snag two victories away from UMass Boston when senior Sarah Gonick defeated Carney in the #4 Singles, 6-2 and 6-3, and then Lisi emerged victorious over Semerly in straight sets, 6-1 and 6-4.

A few minutes later, the Beacons would storm the court and celebrate as Lydia Chan finished off Lauren Macera in straight sets, 6-3 and 6-0, to capture the fifth win UMass Boston would need to capture their first Little East Conference Title.
 
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Ayonna Stuppard finishes her season at 10-0 in Singles while Ayra Shaikh completes her rookie year 9-1 in Singles and 8-1 in Doubles
• Yana Semerly finishes the fall season a perfect 9-0 in Doubles
• The Beacons are now 1-1 in Little East Conference Championship matches
• UMass Boston has now won 23 consecutive matches at home dating back to 2018

 
WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will await the NCAA Tournament bracket which will come out next May, but are slated to play a handful of home matches during the spring, starting with Wheaton College at home on March 23^rd, 2023.