BOSTON, Mass. - The Simmons College women's tennis team was defeated by visiting Roger Williams University, 9-0, this afternoon at the Daly Athletics Complex in Brighton, Mass. The Sharks fall to 0-1 on the season, while the Hawks improve to 1-0. The contest was the season opener for both teams and the first collegiate contest of any kind played at the Daly complex.
Junior Kathryn Hughes (Westford, Mass.) was a double-winner for Roger Williams, winning at first singles over Simmons first year Jessica Schroedl (Staatsbury, N.Y.), 7-5, 6-3, to give the visitors a 6-0 lead. She finished the dual match by combining with classmate Julia Ackerman (Greenwich, Conn.) to down Schroedl and junior Olivia Lakes (Dorchester, Mass.), 8-4, in pro-set form at number one doubles.
Ackerman gained a singles victory at number two for the Hawks earlier in the match, defeating Sharks' first year Nickie Nguyen (Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam), 6-0, 6-0. Senior Gabrielle Riley (Barnstable, Mass.) won in straight sets at third singles with a 6-3, 6-1 triumph for Roger Williams over Simmons first year Marissa Johnson (Norwell, Mass.) Riley paired with first year Allie Grinavic (North Attleboro, Mass.) at number three doubles for the Hawks and did not drop a game in an 8-0 victory over the Sharks' tandem of junior Mary Matthews (Wakefield, R.I.) and first year Mai Driesen (Fayetteville, N.Y.). Grinavic also earned a singles win for Roger Williams with a 6-1, 6-0 decision over Simmons sophomore Michelle Medici (South Portland, Maine) at sixth singles.
First year Taryn Roche (Greenlawn, N.Y.) was flawless for RWU with a 6-0, 6-0 win at number four singles for the Hawks over Lakes. Senior Caroline McCarthy (Carver, Mass.) earned the fifth point of the day to decide the match, registering a 6-2, 6-0 victory at number five singles over Matthews. McCarthy later combined with first year Jessica Magliato (New Rochelle, N.Y.) to earn a 5-4 win over the Sharks duo of Johnson and Nguyen. The doubles match was halted when the Simmons duo was forced to retire.
Simmons returns to action on Saturday, September 3 when it hosts Clark University at 2:00 p.m. at the Daly Athletic Complex courts, while Roger Williams continues its road trip with a September 6 match at Worcester State University in Worcester, Mass. at 3:30 p.m.