Seahawks topple Golden Bears in season-opener, 7-2

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Senior Erin Phillips (Morristown, N.J.) won both her number one singles and doubles matches as the Salve Regina women's tennis team opened its season with a 7-2 victory over host Western New England College Tuesday.

Phillips won her singles match in straight sets and teamed with freshman Ana Gwozdz (Taunton, Mass.) for the doubles win. Gwozdz enjoyed a successful collegiate debut by also winning her number three singles match in straight sets. Senior Valerie Leso (West Warwick, R.I.) contributed to two points as well with wins at number two doubles with junior Nichol Stevens (Chester, Conn.) and number five singles.

Freshman Jessica Moore (Middletown, R.I.) won her collegiate debut in singles in straight sets at the fourth flight while sophomore Karlee Walther (Natick, Mass.) did the same at the sixth flight.

"After Hurricane Earl postponed our first two matches from last weekend, we were eager to face some competition other than our own teammates," said Seahawk head coach Ed Habershaw. "This was a great test for us since WNEC had won each of the last two times we met. Maybe it's the setting because we have always won here on their courts while they have gotten the best of us in Newport."

"Starting off with victories will help our young squad build confidence," continued Habershaw. "Even in our individual match defeats today we saw a lot of good things from our players, getting to the net and attacking to put pressure on the opponent."

For the Golden Bears, junior Chrissy Barbarisi (Feeding Hills, Mass.) won her number two singles match in straight sets. Senior Ashley Czeltka (Southampton, N.Y.) and junior Jess Hafner (Suffield, Conn.) teamed for a win at the number three doubles position.

The Golden Bears fall to 0-2, after dropping their season-opener, 5-4, to the defending The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) champions from Colby-Sawyer College last week. Salve Regina (1-0) plays at Eastern Nazarene College on Friday before hosting the 27th annual Women's Grass Court Doubles Tournament at the Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Courtesy of Western New England sports information