DARTMOUTH, Mass. –University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Salem State University split the six singles matches, but the Lady Vikings carried the doubles competition to earn a 5-4 Little East Conference victory this afternoon in a NCAA Division III women's tennis match played at the UMD Tennis Courts.
Salem State (5-4) moved into fourth place in the conference standings with a 4-2 mark, while the Corsairs (4-7) slipped into a tie for fifth with Worcester State at 2-4. UMass Dartmouth holds the tie-breaker over the Lancers thanks to a 5-4 victory on Oct. 5.
The Lady Vikings stormed out to an early 1-0 advantage, when juniors Jennifer Cleary (Swampscott, Mass.) and April McDermott (Tewksbury, Mass.) cruised to an 8-0 victory at top-flight doubles. The Corsairs' third-flight tandem of freshman Mollie McCaffrey (Taunton, Mass.) and junior Kristen Rose (North Dartmouth, Mass.) responded with an 8-4 decision over seniors Emily Yanchun (Saugus, Mass.) and Lauren Woods (Burlington, Mass.). The visitors regained their lead and momentum heading into singles with an 8-4 win by the combination of freshman Ann Spence (Attleboro, Mass.) and junior Hillary Gustafson (Belchertown, Mass.).
Salem State padded its advantage with a pair of straight-set victories at No. 1 and No. 3 singles, but UMass Dartmouth battled back for the second times in as many days. Freshman Kerry Magoon (Marshfield, Mass.) outlasted McDermott, 6-3, 1-6, 6-0, at second-flight singles, while Rose earned a straight-set, 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 5 singles to whittle the deficit to 4-3.
With the No. 4 singles matches tied at one-set apiece, Gustafson pulled out the decisive set 6-2 to clinch the match for the visitors. Sophomore Jillian Reichert (Marion, Mass.) rallied from one set down to earn a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles to round out the score sheet.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 16, when the Corsairs travel to Salve Regina for a non-conference contest.
