BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's tennis team moved a step closer to defending its' Little East Conference (LEC) regular season title as the Bears downed visiting UMass Dartmouth, 8-1, on Monday afternoon at the Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts.
Bridgewater improves to 8-2 on the season with the win as well as 7-0 in the Little East as the Bears remain unbeaten in conference play. The visiting Corsairs suffered their first loss of the season as they fall to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the LEC.
The Bears would win the conference regular season championship with a win on Saturday at home versus Salem State University.
The hosts captured two out of three doubles matches and all six singles flights to pick up the convincing victory.
Junior Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, Mass.), seniors Ashley Pereira (Assonet, Mass.) and Brittney Hislop (Burley, Wash.), and sophomore Melissa Flynn (Stoneham, Mass.) all won in straight sets for the Bears at the first, second, third and sixth flights, respectively.
Freshman Alison Vautrin (Somerset, Mass.), the reigning Little East Rookie of the Week, won in a three set tie-breaker at number four, 6-4, 4-6, 10-6. Senior Lauren Hopp (Dartmouth, Mass.) earned the decision at the fifth flight as her opponent was forced to retire due to injury in the first set.
Williamson, Vautrin, Hopp and Flynn are all 10-1 on the season in singles play and 7-0 versus LEC opponents. As a team, the Bears have lost just one singles conference match as they 40-1 on the season.
In doubles competition, Williamson and Hopp teamed up for an 8-4 victory at number one, while Pereira and Hislop posted an 8-0 triumph at the second flight. Pereira and Hislop remain unbeaten in conference doubles play at 7-0.
The lone point for UMass came at number three doubles as sophomore Hannah Schulze (Chelmsford, Mass.) and senior Liz Girczyc (Attleboro, Mass.) won in a tie-breaker, 9-8 (8-6).
In upcoming action, Bridgewater travels to non-conference opponent Curry College on Thursday afternoon for a 3:30 match with the Colonels. UMass entertains Little East foe Salem State tomorrow afternoon at three.