Emma Gruber (left) and Taylor Amendola paired for the first time as seniors at No. 1 doubles. (Photo by Erica Bonnette-Lykens)
Emma Gruber (left) and Taylor Amendola paired for the first time as seniors at No. 1 doubles. (Photo by Erica Bonnette-Lykens)
Posted: Apr 02, 2017

Beacons keep Seahawks at bay in 5-4 win

Team Stats
Doubles
Kristy Garcia / Katie Gauthier (UMBWT)
def. Taylor Amendola / Emma Gruber (SRU)
8-2
Abigail Burke / Anna Godshalk (SRU)
def. Kathleen Conroy / Kelsey Shea (UMBWT)
9-8 (7-2)
Meghan Erickson / Valeria Tueme (UMBWT)
def. Shealyn FitzPatrick / Catherine McGee (SRU)
8-2
Singles
Kristy Garcia (UMBWT)
def. Emma Gruber (SRU)
6-0, 6-3
Abigail Burke (SRU)
def. Kathleen Conroy (UMBWT)
6-2, 6-3
Taylor Amendola (SRU)
def. Katie Gauthier (UMBWT)
3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-8)
Anna Godshalk (SRU)
def. Meghan Erickson (UMBWT)
6-2, 6-1
Kelsey Shea (UMBWT)
def. Shealyn FitzPatrick (SRU)
6-0, 6-0
Maria Benatuil (UMBWT)
def. Catherine McGee (SRU)
6-2, 6-1

NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University women's tennis dropped a 5-4 decision in its first-ever meeting with UMass Boston. Sophomores Anna Godshalk (Orleans, Mass.) and Abigail Burke (Harwich, Mass.) both won a pair of matches for the Seahawks.

Junior Kristy Garcia (Miami, Fla.) played a big part in the victory, as she was the lone Beacon to finish 2-0. Freshman Valeria Tueme (Easton, Mass.) and sophomore Meghan Erickson (Hubbardston, Mass.) opened the match with an 8-2 victory at third-flight doubles. The Beacons doubled their lead at number one doubles, as Garcia and freshman Katie Gauthier (West Boylston, Mass.) claimed an 8-2 win.

At number two doubles, Anna Godshalk (Orleans, Mass.) and Abigail Burke (Harwich, Mass.) went the distance with Kelsey Shea (West Bridgewater, Mass.) and Kathleen Conroy (Quincy, Mass.). In the end, the Seahawks pairing earned a 9-8 (7-2) win, to cut the Beacons' lead to 2-1.

UMass Boston quickly pushed the lead out to 4-1 to start singles play. Junior Maria Benatuil (Caracas, Venezuela) earned her fourth win of the season at number six singles, when she picked up a 6-2, 6-1 win. Shea would have an even easier time at number five singles, as the senior earned a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of Shealyn FitzPatrick (South Windsor, Conn.).

Godshalk cut the deficit back to 4-2, when the sophomore defeated Erickson 6-2, 6-1 at number four singles.

UMass Boston clinched the match victory at number one singles. Garcia earned a 6-0, 6-3 win, to improve to 8-8 at number one singles.

Salve Regina made the final decision more respectable-with wins at second and third singles.

Burke defeated Conroy 6-2, 6-3 at number two singles, while Taylor Amendola (Westbrook, Conn.) held off Gauthier 3-6, 6-4, 10-8 in a third-set super tiebreaker at third-flight singles.