Women's Tennis Falls to Nichols, 8-1

BOSTON, Mass. – The Nichols College women's tennis team remained undefeated on the 2010 season, upping its record to 7-0, with an 8-1 win over Wentworth in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference match played at the Sportsmen's Tennis Club.

Sophomores Catherine Jaworski (Berlin, Vt.) and Jillian McQuiggan (Weymouth, Mass.) gave the Bison a 1-0 lead with an 8-1 win at number three doubles over Leopard sophomore Sophie Boyce (South Portland, Maine) and junior Patricia Joseph (Brockton, Mass.).  Freshman Anna Dyakiv (Amsterdam, N.Y.) teamed with senior Maria Balabanova (Moscow, Russia) to defeat sophomore Natalya Cappellini (Falmouth, Mass.) and junior Joanna Gustafson (Ashburnham, Mass.), 8-2, at number one doubles before sophomore Alexandra Cifone (Bristol, Conn.) teamed with classmate Megan Woodruff (Morris, Conn.) to complete the doubles sweep with an 8-5 win over senior Meredith Gratton (West Chazy, N.Y.) and freshman Deborah Massaro (Stony Point, N.Y.).

Dyakiv swept Cappellini, 6-0, 6-0, at number one singles before Balabanova defeated Gratton, 6-3, 6-1, and number three singles to clinch the match for Nichols.  Jaworski would win at number five singles, defeating freshman Olivia Hegner (Medford, Mass.), 6-2, 6-1, which gave the Bison a 6-0 lead.  Wentworth's lone point came at number six singles, where sophomore Jillian Flynn (Billerica, Mass.) rallied to defeat sophomore Erica Tolman (West Rockport, Maine), 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-5).

Woodruff handed Massaro her first defeat at singles play this season, winning 6-4, 6-3, at number four singles before Cifone closed out the match with a three-set win over Gustafson (4-6, 6-0, 6-4).

The Bison improve to 6-0 in TCCC play and host Wesleyan tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.  Wentworth falls to 1-6 overall (1-5 TCC) and hosts UMass Boston on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.