Leso triumphs in three sets as Seahawks defeat Leopards, 7-2

NEWPORT, R.I. - With two of its top players competing in the Wilson/ITA Div. III Regional Championships, Salve Regina University women's tennis had eight different players earn victories on Saturday in a TCCC dual match with visiting Wentworth Institute of Technology. The Seahawks swept the doubles and took four of six singles match for a 7-2 final score, the fifth straight win for Salve Regina.

Senior Elise Jones (Pittsfield, Mass.) and freshman Jessica Moore (Middletown, R.I.) got the scoring started with an 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles. Freshmen pair Danielle Derrico (Pomfret Center, Conn.) and Annie Mallin (Fairfield, Conn.) dropped the first two games at No. 3 doubles before rallying for an 8-3 score. Senior Valerie Leso (West Warwick, R.I.) and junior Nichol Stevens (Chester, Conn.) completed the sweep with an 8-2 score at No. 1 doubles.

Stevens did not allow a game against in her 6-0,6-0 win at No. 1 singles. Sophomore Karlee Walther followed with a straight-set win at No. 3 singles to clinch the match for the Seahawks. Freshman Elizabeth Liguori (Westerly, R.I.) added a sixth point for the Seahawks with her 6-2,6-0 win at No. 5 singles.

Wentworth earned its two points with freshman Deborah Massaro [North Rockland, N.Y.] remaining unbeaten at No. 4 singles (5-0) with a straight set win over Derrico. Sophomore Jillian Flynn [Billerica, Mass.] battled Mallin for a three-set victory at No. 6 singles.

Leso finished the scoring with her second third-set tiebreak victory in the last week, outlasting sophomore Joanna Gustafson [Ashburnham, Mass.] at No. 2 singles.

Salve Regina (5-0; 5-0 TCCC) travels to Bristol to face Roger Williams on Tuesday while Wentworth (1-5; 1-4 TCCC) faces another unbeaten foe in Nichols.