Seahawks drop opener in CCC battle with Hawks
NEWPORT, R.I. - In two back-to-back dual matches with its in-state conference rival Roger Williams last fall, Salve Regina University women's tennis totaled 28 games in singles play. In today's Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opener for both teams, Salve Regina totaled 28 games in singles play but it still was not enough as Roger Williams blanked the host Seahawks by a 9-0 score.
Roger Williams took its first point with Rebecca Curran (Cumberland, R.I.) and Hillary Dutton (Cheshire, Conn.) nearly sweeping eight straight before Hayley Maxwell (Pound Ridge, N.Y.) and Kasey Walther (Natick, Mass.) spoiled the shutout bid. Alexandra Brown (Kennett, Mo.) and Lauren Schmidt (South Windsor, Conn.) won the final six games of their eight-game pro set with Seahawk freshmen Gina Ciliberti (West Islip, N.Y.) and Emma Gruber (New Canaan, Conn.) for the second point.
The Hawks completed the doubles sweep when Adriana Maconochie (Easton, Conn.) and Alexandra Reilly (North Easton, Mass.) held on for an 8-6 score over freshman Taylor Amendola (Westbrook, Conn.) and senior Elizabeth Liguori (Westerly, R.I.).
Salve Regina's first-set fortunes in singles play had highs of only two games, both from its top two freshmen duo. All six Seahawks rebounded in second-set action with at least three games apiece, including four each from Walther, Ciliberti, Gruber, Liguori, and Elizabeth DiFilippo (West Chester, Pa.).
"It's not how you start, it's how you finish," said newly-appointed head coach Cory Tusler, succeeding Ed Habershaw who resigned his coaching duties after 19 seasons with the women's program. Habershaw enters his 22nd year as the sports information director at the university.
Tusler added: "We had some first-match jitters which was good since it meant we were ready. I can see this squad continuing to improve and peaking at the right time in mid October (for the CCC postseason)."
Salve Regina hosts another in-state opponent in Rhode Island College on Thursday, September 5.
Tennis Match Results
Roger Williams vs Salve Regina
08/30/13 at Newport, R.I.
(Leroy Avenue courts)
Roger Williams 9, Salve Regina 0
Singles competition
1. Samantha Curran (RWU) def. Kasey Walther (SRU) 6-1, 6-4
2. Hillary Dutton (RWU) def. Gina Ciliberti (SRU) 6-2, 6-4
3. Lauren Schmidt (RWU) def. Emma Gruber (SRU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Alexandra Brown (RWU) def. Elizabeth DiFilippo (SRU) 6-1, 6-4
5. Alexandra Reilly (RWU) def. Elizabeth Liguori (SRU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Hailey Kaiserman (RWU) def. Taylor Amendola (SRU) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Samantha Curran/Hillary Dutton (RWU) def. Hayley Maxwell/Kasey Walther (SRU) 8-1
2. Alexandra Brown/Lauren Schmidt (RWU) def. Gina Ciliberti/Emma Gruber (SRU) 8-3
3. Adriana Maconochie/Alexandra Reilly (RWU) def. Taylor Amendola/Elizabeth Liguori (SRU) 8-6
Match Notes:
Roger Williams 0-1; 0-0 CCC
Salve Regina 0-0; 0-0 CCC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,1,5,6,4,3)
