Box Score

SALEM, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State College Bears upset the Salem State Lady Vikings in the semifinal round of the 2009 Little East Conference Women's Tennis Tournament on Sunday afternoon. The third seeded Bears swept the doubles matches en route to a 5-1 win over the host and number two seed Lady Vikings.

Bridgewater State (12-3) gained the early momentum by winning all three doubles matches to earn the first three points. Lauren Donnelly (Centerville, MA) and Jessica Francis (West Barnstable, MA) teamed up for an 8-6 victory at first doubles by defeating Salem's top pair of Megan Cote (Fall River, MA), and Jess Distler (Pepperell, MA).  Rachel Elman (Rehoboth, MA) and Paulina Ucher (Webster,  MA) took an 8-2 decision at second doubles, while Catarina Rosa (Fall River, Mass.) and Julie Kraby (Wrentham, Mass.) completed the sweep with an 8-6 win at the third flight.

Cote won the lone point for Salem State (8-3) with a 6-4, 6-0 triumph over Donnelly. The Lady Vikings first flight player completed her senior campaign a perfect 10-0 in singles play.

Needing only two more points to secure the necessary five points for victory, the Bears won the next two points at number three and number four singles respectively. Rosa defeated Carly Muniz (Gloucester, MA), 6-1, 6-4, and, Ucher knocked off  Distler, 6-2, 6-0.

The Bears will face number one seed Western Connecticut State University in the tournament title game on Tuesday afternoon at 2 PM.  Western Connecticut posted a 5-2 victory over fourth seeded UMass Dartmouth in the other semifinal match.

Salem State completed its season with the most wins for the program in over thirteen years.