Women's Tennis Suffers a 9-0 Loss at Nichols College

Women's Tennis Suffers a 9-0 Loss at Nichols College

DUDLEY, Mass. – Senior captain Lindsay Benoit (Holden, Mass.) became the all-time leader in singles wins at Nichols College as the women's tennis team defeated Curry 9-0 in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action Thursday evening at the Pomfret School.

The win is Benoit's 56th of her career, passing former teammate Anna Dyakiv. In her time with the Bison, the team holds a 50-16 record, including an astonishing 29-2 record within the CCC.

"I couldn't be happier for Lindsay Benoit," said Nichols head coach Paul Brower. "Breaking the all-time singles record, she has been a tremendous competitor, and will be a big part to our run in the playoffs this year. Hopefully we send her off in the style she deserves."

Nichols (11-2, 6-1 CCC) has extended its win streak over Curry to eleven matches. The last time the Colonels defeated the Bison was in 2005.

The Bison started things off by sweeping through the doubles matches for the eighth time this season. Benoit and sophomore Cristina Szepanski (Windsor Locks, Conn.) took care of sophomore Kayla Prete (Orange, Conn.) and junior Hannah Erickson (Mount Desert, Maine) 8-0 in the top flight.

The freshmen duo of Ashley Dallaire (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and Daniela Saldarriaga (Medellin, Colombia) had no trouble at No. 2 doubles against freshmen Alexandra Moschetto (Hampton Falls, N.H.) and Laura Ferris (Shelton, Conn.), winning 8-0.

The Colonels (0-10, 0-7 CCC) senior Alison Rhodes (Rye, N.H.) and freshman Sanjay Toure (Brockton, Mass.) were able to take one game at No. 3 doubles before falling  to junior Michelle Keklik (Stratford, Conn.) and senior Kasie Chapin (West Springfield, Mass.), 8-1.

The Bison had equal success in the singles matches. Senior Katie Malloy (Norwell, Mass.) got things started with a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 6 singles against freshman Jennifer Dube (Coventry, Conn.).

Dallaire won the deciding match at No. 3 singles against Ferris 6-1, 6-1 to give the Bison the victory.

Benoit was the next one to finish for the Bison, winning at the top flight 6-0, 6-0 against Prete.

At No. 2 singles, Szepanski defeated Erickson 6-0, 6-0 while at No. 4 singles, freshman Emma Carey (Venice, Fla.) took care of Moschetto 8-2.

Saldarriaga was leading Rhodes 3-0 before winning by default at No. 5 singles to close out the match.

"This group of seniors is just a spectacular group," said Brower. "You look at what they have accomplished and the record that they have strung together since arriving on campus is just tremendous."

The Bison travel to take on conference foe Salve Regina on Saturday at noon. The Colonels host Mount Ida tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. (Match Recap Courtesy of Nichols College Sports Information)