UMass Dartmouth Falls to Bridgewater State, 8-1

SOMERSET, Mass. – University of Massachusetts Dartmouth senior Jackie Bokis earned a hard-fought victory at third singles, but Bridgewater State University posted an 8-1 win over the Corsairs Saturday afternoon in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's tennis match on the Doug Chapman Courts at Somerset Berkley Regional High School.
 
The Corsairs (5-3, 3-2 LEC) saw their two-match win streak snapped, while the Bears (6-2, 4-1 LEC) win their fourth straight match.

"We played too tentatively in doubles, and put ourselves into a big hole," said Head Coach Doug Chapman. "We had our chances in each doubles match, too. Bridgewater State played very well, and were able to hold us off in singles. Jackie Bokis and Alanna O'Connell both competed very well in singles."
 
Bokis, who was making her first appearance at No. 3 singles, dropped the opening set, 6-3, to senior Vanessa Rosa, but took the second frame, 6-1, to force the third and decisive set. Bokis continued her momentum in the super set to edge Rosa, 10-8, and collect her fifth singles win of the season.
 
Bridgewater State raced out to an early advantage by sweeping the doubles competition. Freshman Madeline Von Ruden and sophomore Abigail Ramer captured top-flight doubles, 8-5, against UMassD's top tandem of senior Yasemin Kurtis and Bokis. The Bears No. 2 doubles pair of graduate student Olivia Sweeney and senior Vanessa Rosa cruised to an 8-3 win over junior Alanna O'Connell and sophomore Ailey Riddick. The visitors completed the sweep when junior Brianna Venditti and classmate Mackenzie Silveira bested seniors Emma Sokolovsky and Jordan Beals, 8-4.
 
The Bears won four of their five single matches in straight sets to secure the victory. O'Connell forced a third set at fourth-flight singles, but fell to Ramer (4-6, 7-5, 10-3).
 
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 3 p.m. on Tuesday when the Corsairs travel to Salve Regina University.