BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Jillian Flynn's (Billerica, Mass.) win at number six singles snapped a 4-all tie and gave the Wentworth Institute of Technology a 5-4 win over Worcester State in the season-opening match for both squads.
The two teams split the first pair of doubles flights as Worcester State freshman Taylor Tomasetti (Waterford, Conn.) and classmate Danielle Candelieri (Chelmsford, Mass.), defeated Wentworth senior Joanna Gustafson (Ashburnham, Mass.) and junior Sophie Boyce (South Portland, Maine), 8-5, at number one doubles before Leopard juniors Natalya Cappellini (Falmouth, Mass.) and Lana Ho (Vineyard Haven, Mass.) beat sophomore Brooke Michanczyk (Middletown, Conn.) and Miranda Biron (Webster, Mass.), 8-5.
Wentworth took a 2-1 lead at the conclusion of doubles play when Flynn teamed with sophomore Deborah Massaro (Stony Point, N.Y.) to take a 9-8 win over the Lancers' number three doubles squad of freshman Lisa Higgins (Pembroke, Mass.) and sophomore Laura Sarkis (West Springfield, Mass.). The Leopards trailed, 8-7, before rallying to tie the match at 8-all and winning the tiebreaker, 7-2.
The Lancers evened the match at 2-all when Candelieri defeated Cappellini, 6-4, 6-2, at number two singles before the Leopards took a 4-2 lead on Massaro's 6-1, 6-0 win over Michanczyk at number three singles and Gustafson's 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Tomasetti at number one singles.
Biron defeated Ho, 6-3, 6-4, in the number four flight to cut the lead to 4-3 and Sarkis would defeat sophomore Olivia Hegner (Medford, Mass.) at number five by the same score to tie the match. After Flynn took the first set by a 6-2 score from junior Danielle Desmaris (Gardner, Mass.), the two had a battle in the second set, with Flynn holding leads of 3-2, 4-3, and 5-4 before winning the match and securing the victory for the Leopards, 6-4.
Wentworth (1-0) opens Commonwealth Coast Conference play Saturday at Gordon. Worcester State (0-1) hosts Newbury on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled to start at Noon.
Wentworth 5, Worcester State 4
Singles competition
1. Joanna Gustafson (WIT) def. Taylor Tomasetti (WOR) 6-2, 6-3
2. Danielle Candelieri (WOR) def. Natalya Cappellini (WIT) 6-4, 6-2
3. Deborah Massaro (WIT) def. Brooke Michanczyk (WOR) 6-1, 6-0
4. Miranda Biron (WOR) def. Lana Ho (WIT) 6-3, 6-4
5. Laura Sarkis (WOR) def. Olivia Hegner (WIT) 6-3, 6-4
6. Jillian Flynn (WIT) def. Erin Desmarais (WOR) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Taylor Tomasetti/Danielle Candelieri (WOR) def. Joanna Gustafson/Sophie Boyce (WIT) 8-5
2. Natalya Cappellini/Lana Ho (WIT) def. Brooke Michanczyk/Miranda Biron (WOR) 8-5
3. Deborah Massaro/Jillian Flynn (WIT) def. Lisa Higgins/Laura Sarkis (WOR) 9-8 (7-2)
Match Notes:
Worcester State 0-1
Wentworth 1-0
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,3,1,4,5,6)