Women’s Tennis Downs New Haven, 7-2, in Home Opener

Three Ravens win in both singles and doubles play

RINDGE, N.H. (September 24, 2011) – Sophomore Natasha McCarthy (Rindge, N.H.) lost just eight games while winning in both first doubles and first singles on Saturday afternoon as the Franklin Pierce University women's tennis team defeated New Haven, 7-2, in Northeast-10 Conference play. Senior Kaitlin Krolikowski (Massapequa, N.Y.) joined McCarthy for the win at first doubles and added a straight-set win at second singles, as well.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 1-1 (1-1 Northeast-10), while New Haven falls to 0-3 (0-3 Northeast-10).

The Ravens swept doubles play to open the match with a 3-0 lead. McCarthy and Krolikowski posted the most dominant win, as they rolled to an 8-2 victory over New Haven freshman Lindsey Conley and sophomore Nan Sirihorachai. At second doubles, it was senior Drew Alexander (Long Beach, N.Y.) and freshman Leslie Rodgers (Baltimore, Md.) who combined to power to an 8-3 win over New Haven freshmen Brianna Kraynak and Martha Petzoldt. Finally, at third doubles, junior Melissa Cohen (Queens, N.Y.) teamed with senior Nikki Chalifoux (Lebanon, Conn.) for an 8-6 win over freshmen Melanie Johnson and Jess Macphee.

McCarthy and Krolikowski would pick up straight-set victories in the top two singles flights to collect the fourth and fifth points for the team, clinching the match for the Ravens early. At first singles, McCarthy breezed to a 6-4, 6-2 win over Conley, while Krolikowski took a 6-2, 7-5 decision from Kraynak at second singles. Cohen became the third Raven to win in both doubles and singles play when she picked up an 8-2 win over New Haven sophomore Brianna Salamone in the pro-set format at fifth singles. Senior Mariama Bonetti (New York, N.Y.) picked up the final point of the afternoon for Franklin Pierce with a 6-3, 6-0 win at sixth singles over freshman Christina Santos.

The Ravens return to the court on Sunday, Sept. 25, when travel to Stonehill for a Northeast-10 Conference matchup set to begin at 11 a.m. in Easton, Mass.

Results
Doubles
1. Natasha McCarthy/Kaitlin Krolikowski (FPU) def. Lindsey Conley/Nan Sirihorachai (UNH), 8-2
2. Drew Alexander/Leslie Rodgers (FPU) def. Brianna Kraynak/Martha Petzoldt (UNH), 8-3
3. Melissa Cohen/Nikki Chalifoux (FPU) def. Melanie Johnson/Jess Macphee (UNH), 8-6

Singles
1. McCarthy (FPU) def. Conley (UNH), 6-4, 6-2
2. Krolikowski (FPU) def. Kraynak (UNH), 6-2, 7-5
3. Sirihorachai (UNH) def. Alexander (FPU), 2-6, 6-2, 10-8 (tiebreak)
4. Petzoldt (UNH) def. Chalifoux (FPU), 0-6, 6-2, 10-6 (tiebreak)
5. Cohen (FPU) def. Brianna Salamone (UNH), 8-2 (pro set)
6. Mariama Bonetti (FPU) def. Christina Santos (UNH), 6-3, 6-0

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).