SPRINGFIELD, Mass., September 6, 2006 – Springfield College senior captain Meghan Kelly (Queensbury, N.Y.) won her match at No. 1 singles to help lead the Pride women’s tennis team to an 8-1 victory over cross-town rival Western New England College (WNEC) this afternoon at SC’s Appleton Courts.

It was the season-opener for both teams. Thus, the Pride is now 1-0, while WNEC is 0-1.

Kelly, who hails from Queensbury, N.Y., was leading 5-1 in the first set when her opponent, junior Meredith Hughes (Springfield, Mass.), made a nice comeback to take a 6-5 lead. Kelly righted the ship by winning the set’s final game and then the tie-breaker, 7-4. Kelly then won the second set, 6-1.

The match began with SC claiming all three doubles matches. Kelly and sophomore Melissa Weinstein (Allentown, Pa.) combined to win at No. 1 doubles, 8-5. Freshman Kaitlynn Cates (Middlebury, Conn.) and junior Shannon Desroches (Belchertown, Mass.) won at No. 2 doubles, 8-6. Senior Jenny Cameron (Belfast, Maine) and freshman Danielle Lamb (Wells, Vt.) captured No. 3 doubles, 8-2.

Other winners for the hosts included Cates at No. 3 singles, 6-1, 6-3; Desroches at No. 4 singles, 6-3, 6-3; Cameron at No. 5 singles, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 10-3 in a super tiebreaker; and Lamb at No. 6 singles, 6-0, 6-1.

The lone winner for the Golden Bears was senior Kristyn Villany (Red Bank, N.J.), who defeated Weinstein, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 2 singles.

This was the Pride's first victory over WNEC in the last four years. Up next, SC will travel to Wellesley College on Saturday, September 9th, for a 1:00 p.m. match in the Pride's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener.

Singles:
Meghan Kelly (SC) def. Meredith Hughes (WNEC), 7-6 (4), 6-1
Kristyn Villany (WNEC) def. Melissa Weinstein (SC), 6-4, 6-3
Kaitlynn Cates (SC) def. Kristen Ayers (WNEC), 6-1, 6-3
Shannon Desroches (SC) def. Ashley Sunderland (WNEC), 6-3, 6-3
Jenny Cameron (SC) def. Sara Peck (WNEC), 6-3, 6-7 (4), (10-3)
Danielle Lamb (SC) def. Amanda Vitko (WNEC), 6-0, 6-1

Doubles:
Kelly-Weinstein (SC) def. Hughes-Villany (WNEC), 8-5
Cates-Desroches (SC) def. Ayers-Sunderland (WNEC), 8-6
Cameron-Lamb (SC) def. Kim Predella-Colleen Swan (WNEC), 8-2

published: 09/06/2006