Women's Tennis Advances to NE-10 Semifinals After 5-0 Shutout of St. Michael's
Links: Box Score
Middleton, Mass. – The No. 4 Merrimack College women's tennis team shutout No. 5 St. Michael's College, 5-0, in the Northeast-10 First Round earlier today at the Northeast Tennis Center.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 5 | St. Michael's 0
Records: Merrimack (10-4, 8-4 NE-10) | St. Michael's (8-5, 8-4 NE-10)
Location: Northeast Tennis Center | Middleton, Mass.
How It Happened
The Warriors hosted the Purple Knights at the Northeast Tennis Center, an indoor facility, instead of the normal outdoor facility at North Andover High School due to the threat of rain.
The change in home venue did not impact Merrimack, as the team triumphed without losing a match.
The doubles portion of the match was played simultaneously, across three courts. At No. 1, sophomore Grace Messina (Caracas, Venezuela) and senior Chealsey Giatrelis (Centerville, Mass.) defeated their opposition, 8-1.
Senior Shakee Messina (Caracas, Venezuela) returned to the lineup after missing the last six games. She appeared at No. 2 doubles alongside classmate Rachel Muller (North Andover, Mass.) as they took home an 8-2 victory.
The most competitive match occurred at No. 3 doubles. Freshmen Danielle Dunn (Middleton, Mass.) and Mackenzie Blair (Thomaston, Conn.) trailed the majority of the match, but notched a come-from-behind 9-7 win.
After the completion of the doubles, Merrimack won singles matches at No. 1 and No. 3 to defeat St. Michael's. In postseason play, the match ends when they first team reaches five points.
Results
Doubles
1. Grace Messina/Chealsey Giatrelis (MER) def. Caroline Martin/Caroline Toutoungi (STM) 8-1
2. Shakee Messina/Rachel Muller (MER) def. Erica Bundrick/Alex Sulkin (STM) 8-2
3. Danielle Dunn/Mackenzie Blair (MER) def. Nicole Kellogg/Amelia Weeks (STM) 9-7
Singles
1. Grace Messina (MER) def. Erica Bundrick (STM) 6-2, 6-0
3. Chealsey Giatrelis (MER) def. Hannah Benoit (STM) 6-0, 6-0
Up Next
The Navy and Gold advance to the Northeast-10 Semifinals on Friday afternoon when they will travel to Adelphi University and face the Panthers at 2 p.m.
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