NORTON, Mass. – The Roger Williams University women's tennis team won the doubles point and took four of six singles matches to come away with a 5-2 victory over host Wheaton College (Mass.) this afternoon at Clark Tennis Courts on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons slip to 0-1 in their season opener, while the Hawks improve to a perfect 3-0.
Roger Williams won two of three matches to earn the doubles point in the dual match.
Wheaton's first year duo of Maya Huerta (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico) and Taylor Shanefelter (Champion, Pa.) recorded their first collegiate win with a 7-5 decision over the RWU pairing of senior Adriana Palmieri (Southington, Conn.) and sophomore Megan Bache (Westbrook, Conn.) at number two doubles.
The Hawks won at first and third doubles to pick up the point. Junior Valentina Abarca (Riobamba, Ecuador) and first year Iris Gkrekou (Athens, Greece) teamed to defeat the Lyons' top duo of seniors Laila Haraj-Sai (Madison, Conn.) and Asia-Leigh Hollis (Hamilton, Bermuda), 6-4, at number one. Senior Ella Mancini (Middlebury, Conn.) and sophomore Claire Dwyer (Manchester, Maine) combined for a 6-2 victory at third doubles for Roger Williams over Wheaton senior Taylor Wilson (Dover, N.H.) and sophomore Lily Runyan (New Milford, Conn.).
Haraj-Sai picked up the victory at number one singles for the Lyons with a straight set, 6-4, 6-2, showing over Abarca. It was her first win at the top spot after moving up from last season. Wheaton also earned victory at sixth singles from senior Isabella Cottrell (Melrose, Mass.), who disposed of Dwyer, 6-3, 6-2. The win pulled the Lyons within 3-2 in the match.
Gkrekou gave the Hawks the dual match victory after battling back for a three-set win at number two singles over Hollis. Hollis won the opening set, 6-3, but Gkrekou won the next two frames, 6-2, 6-3. Palmieri also fought to a three-set win at fifth singles to close out the afternoon for Roger Williams. She grinded out a 7-6 (5) opening set win over Huerta, before the Wheaton rookie evened the match with a 6-4 middle set win. Palmieri won the third set tie-breaker, 10-8.
The Hawks also gained straight set victories at third and fourth singles. Bache dropped one game in a 6-1 first set effort over Lyon junior Maya Brennan (Valatie, N.Y.) before closing the match out with a 6-2 second set showing. Mancini was just as efficient at fourth singles for Roger Williams with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Wilson.
Wheaton returns to the court on Wednesday, September 16 when it hosts Bridgewater State University on the Clark Tennis Courts at 4:00 p.m., while the Hawks host Clark University on September 12 at Noon.
