NEWPORT, R.I. - Trailing 2-1 after doubles play, Salve Regina University women's tennis scored four straight-set singles wins to defeat Curry College, 5-4, in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) match.
The Colonels took a 2-1 lead with doubles wins from their top tandem, sophomores Lauren Chuha (Reading, Mass.) and Megan Mulrooney (So. Boston, Mass.), and another pair of sophomores at No. 3, Devin Curley (Marshfield, Mass.) and Elizabeth Zarkades (Beverly, Mass.). Salve Regina (4-3; 2-3 CCC) scored its doubles win at second position with junior Shannon O'Brien (Gorham, Maine) and senior co-captain Nichol Stevens (Chester, Conn.).
"Curry played excellent doubles at all three matches," said Seahawk head coach Ed Habershaw. "Their pairs were well-balanced with an aggressive net player and a steady player from the baseline. Ironically, our one doubles win came from our pair which tends to play a defensive style. Our freshmen at first doubles, Elizabeth DiFilippo and Megan Olson, made great improvement in their on-court work. Their communication continues to grow and they are becoming more and more confident as they play together. DiFilippo had a solid service game for the entire day, high percentage of first serves."
Mulrooney made it 3-1 after win at first singles over Stevens. The next three points went to Salve Regina which won at sixth singles with Elizabeth Liguori (Westerly, R.I.) - Monday's hero in the dark against Johnson & Wales - and then third singles with sophomore co-captain Ana Gwozdz (Taunton, Mass.). O'Brien gave the Seahawks a 4-3 lead with her straight-set win at fourth singles, but Emily Mongello (Milton, Mass.) tied the match at 4-all when she downed DiFilippo at second singles.
This left the deciding match in the hands of the fifth singles competitors - Curry's Kate Johnson (Beverly, Mass.) and Salve Regina's Karlee Walther (Natick, Mass.), both juniors. The Seahawk junior clinched the match with a break of serve in the ninth game of the second set. It was the second straight 5-4 decision grabbed by the Seahawks who also won on Monday against the visiting Wildcats.
"Karlee has recovered from an illness and injury to post her first singles win of the season," said Habershaw. "She led us in victories last year and she continues to be reliable."
Curry (5-2; 3-1 CCC) suffers its first conference loss of the season; the Colonels host Roger Williams University on Saturday. Salve Regina travels to Eastern Nazarene for a CCC match with the Lions. (Match Recap Courtesy of Salve Regina Sports Information).
