BRISTOL, R.I. – The Wheaton College (Mass.) women's tennis team was defeated by host Roger Williams University, 5-2, this afternoon at the tennis courts on the RWU campus in Bristol, R.I.
The Lyons dip to 0-1 after their season opener, while the Hawks improve to 3-0.
Wheaton swept all three doubles matches to gain the first point of the contest, but Roger Williams rebounded to win five of six singles matches to capture the dual match.
Senior Kara Greenlee (San Antonio, Texas) was the only double-winner for either team. Greenlee combined with classmate Alissa Ortiz (El Paso, Texas) to earn a hard-fought 7-6 (7-3) win at number one doubles over the Hawks' tandem of sophomore Valentina Abarca (Riobamba, Ecuador) and first year Megan Bache (Westbrook, Conn.). Greenlee had an easier time at first singles, taking down Abarca in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, for the Lyons.
Wheaton's junior duo of Laila Haraj-Sai (Madison, Conn.) and Asia-Leigh Hollis (Hamilton, Bermuda) defeated the Roger Williams pairing of senior Izzy Pecora (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) and junior Ella Mancini (Middlebury, Conn.), 6-4, at number two doubles. The Lyons cruised at third doubles with a 6-2 decision behind sophomore Maya Brennan (Valatie, N.Y.) and first year Amelie Robinson over junior Adriana Palmieri (Southington, Conn.) and first year Claire Dwyer (Manchester, Maine).
Hollis battled at number four singles for Wheaton, before eventually succumbing to Bache in three sets. Bache won the opening frame, 6-3, before Hollis completely flipped the script with a 6-1 showing in the middle set. Bache rebounded to win the deciding frame, 6-4.
Roger Williams won the rest of its singles matches in straight sets. Following her first collegiate win in doubles play, Robinson pushed Hawk junior Gabrielle Petroniro (Wolcott, Conn.) to the limit at sixth singles. Her RWU counterpart won both sets by counts of 7-6, winning the first tie-breaker, 7-2, before taking the second tie break by a count of 7-3.
Pecora won the first frame at number two singles over Haraj-Sai, but the Lyon junior looked to rebound with a win in the second frame, before falling to Pecora, 7-5. Ortiz also dropped a 7-5 decision at number three singles for Wheaton, before Mancini closed out the match with a 6-3 effort. Palmieri avenged her doubles defeat for Roger Williams with a 6-2, 6-4 win at number five singles over Brennan.
The Lyons return to the courts on Wednesday, September 17 when they head to nearby Bridgewater, Mass. to play Bridgewater State University at 3:30 p.m., while the Hawks continue their full fall season with a dual match in Worcester, Mass. against Clark University on September 13 at 12:00 p.m.
