BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State College women's tennis team advanced to the semifinal round of the 2009 Little East Conference Tournament as the third seeded Bears downed #6 University of Southern Maine, 5-3, in quarterfinal action this afternoon at the Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts in Bridgewater.
Bridgewater (11-3) will take on second seeded Salem State College in the tournament semifinals at Salem on Sunday at 1:00 PM.
Bridgewater won two of the three doubles matches to take an early 2-1 lead. Juniors Lauren Donnelly (Centerville, MA) and Jessica Francis (West Barnstable, MA) teamed up for an 8-6 victory at first doubles. The key match of the afternoon, however, turned out to be the third doubles flight. Senior Catarina Rosa (Fall River, MA) and sophomore Julie Kraby (Wrentham, MA) battled to a close 9-8 win in a match that was decided by a 7-5 tie-breaker.
Needing three points to take the match entering singles play, the Bears received singles victories from Rosa at the second flight (6-4, 6-3), Francis at number four (6-1, 6-1) and junior Rachel Elman (Rehoboth, MA) at the top flight (6-1, 6-3) to come away with the victory.
For Southern Maine, freshman Tegan Talbot (Topsham, ME) posted a 6-0, 6-3 straight set win at the third singles flight, while freshman Laura Bell (Hollis, ME) also won in straight sets at number five, 6-2, 6-1. Freshmen Kristine Brammer (Littleton, NH) and Samantha Tardif (Biddeford, ME) paired up for an 8-4 triumph at second doubles for the Huskies who completed the 2009 season with an overall record of 6-8.