Leopards Fall to Western New England, 8-1

BOSTON, Mass. – The Western New England College women's tennis team earned its first The Commonwealth Coast Conference victory of the 2010 season as the Golden Bears defeated Wentworth, 8-1, in a match played at the Sportsmen's Tennis Club.

Junior Nicole DeSimone (Feeding Hills, Mass.) teamed with sophomore Caitlin Hughes (Springfield, Mass.) to take an 8-3 win over sophomores Natalya Cappellini (Falmouth, Mass.) and Lana Ho (Vineyard Haven, Mass.) at number one doubles.  The number two doubles flight was won by WNEC junior Christina Barbarisi (Feeding Hills, Mass.) and sophomore Mustafa (Chicopee, Mass.), defeating seniors Meredith Gratton (West Chazy, N.Y.) and Jeannine Stover (Calais, Maine), 8-4.  The Golden Bears completed the sweep with an 8-5 win at number three doubles as junior Jessica Haffner (Suffield, Conn.) teamed with classmate Lori Pagliano (Milford, Conn.) to defeat Wentworth freshman Alexis Cristaldi (Methuen, Mass.) and sophomore Sophie Boyce (South Portland, Maine).

Hughes defeated Gratton without dropping a set (6-0, 6-0) to give Western New England a 4-0 lead before DeSimone's 6-0, 6-2 win over Cappellini at number one singles clinched the win for WNEC.  Barbarisi defeated Ho, 6-1, 6-2, at number two singles before Wentworth got its only point of the afternoon when freshman Deborah Massaro (Stony Point, N.Y.) defeated junior Amanda Ide (Hamden, Conn.) at number six singles, 6-0, 6-1.  The Golden Bears wrapped up the match with wins at number five and number four singles.  Haffner defeated freshman Olivia Hegner (Medford, Mass.), 6-2, 6-2, while Mustafa defeated Cristaldi, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.

Wentworth (1-3, 1-2 TCCC) hosts Endicott on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.  That same day Western New England (1-2, 1-2 TCCC) hosts Regis.