DANBURY, Conn. -- The Western Connecticut State University women's tennis team captured its first-ever Little East Conference Tournament title with a 5-3 victory over Bridgewater State College at Westside Courts on Thursday afternoon.
After falling behind, 2-1 following the doubles competition, WestConn won four of five singles matches to earn the 2009 LEC crown and automatic berth into the 2010 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament next May.
The Colonials, 13-2, drew even at 2-2 when Alyssa Hoynack (Old Lyme, CT) comfortably defeated Catarina Rosa (Fall River, MA), 6-1, 6-1 at third singles.
The Bears went back in front, 3-2, after Julie Kraby (Wrentham, MA) cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 victory over junior Brittany DiMauro (Torrington, CT) at number six singles.
Lauren Post (Danbury, CT) grounded out a 6-3, 6-2 win over Lauren Donnelly (Centerville, MA) in the top singles match and all eyes turned to three, three-set matches at #2, 4 and 5 solos.
Brittany Hoynack (Old Lyme, CT) survived a scare at second singles, dropping the first set before coming back for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Rachel Elman (Rehoboth, MA).
Jenna Kosiba (Bristol, CT) and Jessica Francis (West Barnstable, MA) provided a thrill for the nearly 100 courtside fans at fifth singles. Kosiba closed out the nearly four-hour match with a come-from-behind 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-2 decision.
The fourth singles match went to a third set after Alison Mahony (Bristol, CT) and Paulina Ucher (Webster, MA) split the first two sets, 7-5, apiece. Mahony led 2-0 in their third set when the Kosiba closed out the match and the celebration commenced on the court to her left.
In doubles, Donnelly and Francis defeated Post and Kosiba, 8-5 at the top pairs match. Alyssa and Brittany Hoynack defeated Elman and Ucher at #2 doubles, 8-2, after WestConn's Maxx Zimmer (Sandy Hook, CT) and Kelly Macey (New Fairfield, CT) were blanked, 8-0, by Rosa and Kraby in the number three match.