DARTMOUTH, Mass. – University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is on the verge of clinching a berth into the 2014 Little East Conference Women's Tennis Championship after earning a 6-3 victory over visiting University of Southern Maine this afternoon at the UMD Tennis Courts.
The Corsairs' (5-7) collected their third conference win of the season to improve to 3-4 in the circuit. This afternoon's victory coupled with a Worcester State win over Western Connecticut would clinch a berth into the six-team tournament field. The Huskies (3-11) were eliminated from playoff contention and fell to 1-6 on the campaign.
UMass Dartmouth never trailed in the match after junior Kristen Rose (North Dartmouth, Mass.) and freshman Molina Oung (Bourne, Mass.) earned an 8-3 win at No. 3 doubles. The Corsairs' extended their advantage when freshman Mollie McCaffrey (Taunton, Mass.) and classmate Kerry Magoon (Marshfield, Mass.) combined for an 8-3 victory over Southern Maine's No. 2 doubles pair. The Huskies prevented the doubles sweep as their top-flight tandem of junior Sarah Hill (Topsham, Maine) and classmate Molly Gallagher (South Portland, Maine) scored an 8-5 win over junior Maggie LeBrun (Mattapoisett, Mass.) and sophomore Jillian Reichert (Marion, Mass.).
Rose moved up from her customary No. 5 singles spot to record her second victory, dispatching junior Courtney Aldrich (Lewiston, Maine) in straight-sets, 6-1, 6-1, at fourth-flight singles. Hill trimmed the visitors' deficit to 3-2 with a 6-3, 6-3 win at top-flight singles.
Sophomore Rosalie Kimba (Milford, Mass.) continued her strong play against conference opponents, registering a dominating 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 6 singles. UMass Dartmouth sealed the win when McCaffrey defeated her opponent at third-flight singles in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0.
Gallagher penned the Huskies final victory into their ledger at No. 2 singles as Gallaher posted a 6-3, 6-4 win. Reichert closed out the scoring at No. 5 singles, rallying from one set down to edge her opponent 3-6, 6-4, 10-8.
UMass Dartmouth will close out its regular-season tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m., when the Corsairs travel to Western Connecticut State University.
