Women's Tennis Survives at St. Michael's, 5-4
Women's Tennis Survives vs. St. Michael's 5-4
Links: Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College women's tennis team held on for a 5-4 victory over Saint Michael's College this afternoon up in Vermont.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 5 | St. Michael's 4
Records: Merrimack (4-1, 4-1 NE-10) | St. Michael's (2-1, 2-1 NE-10)
Location: SMC Tennis Courts | Colchester, Vt.
How It Happened
The Warriors handled a tough environment up in Colchester to deal the Purple Knights their first loss of the season.
In doubles play Grace Messina (Caracas, Venezuela) and Shakee Messina (Caracas, Venezuela) got the ball rolling for Merrimack with a 8-2 victory. Chealsey Giatrelis (Centerville, Mass.) and Danielle Dunn (Middleton, Mass.) followed that up with a 8-2 win of their own.
Rachel Muller (North Andover, Mass.) and Mackenzie Blair (Thomaston, Conn.) suffered the Warriors only loss in doubles play, by the score of 8-1.
With a 2-1 lead heading into singles play, the Navy and Gold's top options carried the team. Grace Messina improved her record at No. 1 to 5-0 with a 6-1, 6-0 win.
Shakee Messina followed that up with a 6-4, 6-2 victory at No. 2.
Giatrelis fought valiantly for the match-clinching victory at No. 3. After dropping the first set 6-4, she came back to win the final two sets 6-0, 7-5.
With a 5-2 lead and the match comfortably in hand, the Warriors slipped up at No. 4-6. Dunn lost her match 7-5, 6-3. Muller fell at No. 5 6-3, 6-3 and Blair dropped No. 6 6-1, 6-2.
Results
Doubles
1. Grace Messina/Shakee Messina (MER) def. Caroline Martin/Caroline Toutoungi (STM) 8-2
2. Chealsey Giatrelis/ Danielle Dunn (MER) def. Erica Bundrick/Alexandra Sulkin (STM) 8-2
3. Nicole Kellogg/Amelia Weeks (STM) def. Rachel Muller/Mackenzie Blair (MER) 8-1
Singles
1. Grace Messina (MER) def. Erica Bundrick (STM) 6-1, 6-0
2. Shakee Messina (MER) def. Nicole Kellogg (STM) 6-4, 6-2
3. Chealsey Giatrelis (MER) def. Hannah Benoit (STM) 4-6, 6-0, 7-5
4. Caroline Martin (STM) def. Danielle Dunn (MER) 7-5, 6-3
5. Alexandra Sulkin (STM) def. Rachel Muller (MER) 6-3, 6-3
6. Caroline Toutoungi (STM) def. Mackenzie Blair (MER) 6-1, 6-2
Up Next
The Warriors continue their road swing on Sunday at 10 a.m. against Adelphi.
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