BRIGHTON, MASS - Simmons tennis dropped its first match of the season to non-conference Roger Williams University, 9-0, on Friday afternoon. The Sharks drop to 0-1 on the year, while the Hawks improve to 1-0.

The Hawks came out of the gate strong with a sweep of doubles, but the Sharks did not make it easy. Third doubles tandem of junior Libby Weed and first-year Avery Halloran made Gracie McCarthy and Kate Hardy work for the 8-4 win. Seniors Megan McKeever and Sarah Mariski battled Gianna Ferraro and Liv Santoro in second doubles before falling, 8-2.

While Roger Williams had the upper-hand winning all six singles matches, there were some strong performances by the Sharks. Slotted in first singles Olga Zhizhen battled it out with the Hawks' Emma Place, but Place was able to squeeze out the two-set, 6-2, 6-2 win. At the end of the day, the Sharks' Weed and the Hawks' Alexa DiCesare were the last two players remaining on the court as DiCesare was able to pull out the two-set, 6-2, 6-2 victory.

Simmons returns to the courts on Labor Day, Monday Sept. 5 hosting Curry College at noon.

RESULTS

SINGLES
1. Emma Place (RWU) def. Olga Zhizhin (SIM), 6-2, 6-2
2. Alessia Cahoon (RWU) def. Leah Bonis (SIM), 6-1, 6-0
3. Gianna Ferraro (RWU) def. Sarah Mariski (SIM), 6-1, 6-1
4. Alexa DiCesare (RWU) def. Libby Weed (SIM), 6-2, 6-2
5. Gracie McCarthy (RWU) def. Megan McKeever (SIM), 6-0, 6-0
6. Liv Santoro (RWU) def. Sam Margolin (SIM), 6-0, 6-1

DOUBLES
1. Alessia Cahoon / Emma Place (RWU) def. Olga Zhizhin / Leah Bonis (SIM), 8-0
2. Gianna Ferraro / Liv Santor (RWU) def. Megan McKeever / Sarah Mariski (SIM), 8-2
3. Gracie McCarthy / Kate Hardy (RWU) def. Libby Weed / Avery Halloran (SIM), 8-4