Women's Tennis Posts Fifth Straight Win as Bears Blank Lancers, 9-0

WORCESTER, Mass. -- Senior classmates Lauren Donnelly (Centerville, Mass.) and Jessica Francis (W. Barnstable, Mass.) won at first and second singles and teamed together for a victory at first doubles to help unbeaten Bridgewater State University hand conference rival Worcester State University a 9-0 setback this afternoon in Little East Conference women's tennis action.

Donnelly and Francis started off the match for the Bears (5-0, 2-0 LEC) with a closely contested 8-5 triumph in their doubles matches and then sophomore Julie Kraby (Wrentham, Mass.) and junior Bridget Murphy (Mattapoisett, Mass.) followed with an 8-3 win at second doubles. Freshman Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, Mass.) and sophomore Lauren Hopp (Dartmouth, Mass.) closed out pair play with an 8-0 victory.

Donnelly posted a 6-0, 6-3 win over Perkins before Francis defeated sophomore Marissa Boss (Holden, Mass.), 6-1, 6-0. At third singles, Williamson beat Blais 6-4 , 6-3 after first-year Brooke Michanczyk (Middletown, Conn.) was routed 6-3, 6-0 at fourth singles. Bridgewater State closed out the match with a pair of sweeps by Murphy and freshman Alison Joseph (Dartmouth, MA) at fifth and sixth singles, respectively.

For the Lancers (3-2, 1-2 LEC), fourth-year teammates Ashley Perkins (Worcester, Mass.) and Courteney Blais (Paxton, Mass,) were each handed their first loss of the season at first doubles as Blais, who was previously 3-0 at third singles, also lost for the first time this year.

Worcester State will resume their contest against Salem State on Thursday at 3:30 at Shrewsbury High before they head to North Adams to face off against MCLA at 11 AM on Saturday. WSU was behind 2-1 after the doubles competition on September 16 before rain postponed their matchup with the Vikings.

After entertaining Roger Williams on Thursday at 3:30 the Bears will continue LEC play with UMass Boston on the road on Saturday at 1 o'clock.