Women's Tennis Overcomes Doubles Deficit to Defeat Bates, 6-3, Sunday Afternoon
Links: Box Score
LEWISTON, Maine. – After losing two of three doubles matches to begin the contest, the Merrimack College women's tennis team fought back to win five of six singles contests to defeat Bates College, 6-3, on Sunday afternoon from the Wallach Tennis Center. Freshman Lauren Persson (Barnstable, Mass.) won in three sets at No. 4 singles including a comeback in the final set after dropping the first five games.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 6, Bates 3
Records: Merrimack (8-3, 6-3 NE-10) | Bates (0-1)
Location: Wallach Tennis Center | Lewiston, Maine
How It Happened
Captains Chealsey Giatrelis (Centerville, Mass.) and Grace Messina (Caracas, Venezuela) began the afternoon with a convincing win at No. 1, 8-1. The duo improved their record to 10-0 this season in dual matches.
The Bobcats fought back at second and third doubles as Persson and freshman Mana Seifaei (North York, Ontario) dropped No. 2 by three games, 8-5. After debuting as a pair yesterday, sophomore Danielle Dunn (Middleton, Mass.) and freshman Celine Mende (Shrewsbury, Mass.) played in a back-and-forth contest at No. 3, but the hosts prevailed in the 16th game, 9-7.
The Warriors took control of the match during singles. Messina stepped up at No. 1 by winning in straight sets, 6-4 and 7-5. For the first time this season, Giatrelis lost in straight sets at second singles as Bates picked up its third points of the match.
Merrimack's depth prevailed as the Navy and Gold swept play at No. 3-6. Seifaei triumphed over her opponent at No. 3 quickly, 6-2 and 6-2. Persson played some of her best tennis of the year during the final games at No. 4. After winning the opening set, the first-year player dropped the second frame and lost the first five games in the third set. The rookie responded by winning the next seven games of the set, winning the match and avoiding a tiebreak in the process (7-5).
For the second straight day, Dunn and Mende won in straight sets at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, as the Warriors secured the victory in their second non-conference dual match of the season.
Northeast-10 Postseason Outlook
Top-six qualify for the NE-10 Championship with the top-two seeds receiving byes to the semifinals; Merrimack plays Assumption, Bentley and Le Moyne this week.
1. Adelphi (8-0)
2. Assumption (6-1)
3. Stonehill (6-1)
4. Southern New Hampshire (5-1)
5. Bentley (6-2)
6. Merrimack (6-3)
7. Le Moyne (5-4)
8. Saint Anselm (3-4)
9. Saint Michael's (3-7)
10. Saint Rose (1-6)
11. New Haven (1-7)
12. American Int'l (1-8)
13. Franklin Pierce (0-7)
Results
Doubles
1. Grace Messina/ Chealsey Giatrelis (MER) def. Maisie Silverman / Kelsey Pearson (BAT) 8-1
2. Lodomar / Stone (BAT) def. Lauren Persson / Mana Seifaei (MER) 8-5
3. Emma Matson / Emma Blakeley (BAT) def. Celine Mende / Danielle Dunn (MER) 9-7
Singles
1. Grace Messina (MER) def. Maisie Silverman (BAT) 6-4, 7-5
2. Stone (BAT) def. Chealsey Giatrelis (MER) 6-4, 7-5
3. Mana Seifaei (MER) def. Lodomar (BAT) 6-2, 6-2
4. Lauren Persson (MER) def. Emma Blakeley (BAT) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
5. Danielle Dunn (MER) def. Emma Matson (BAT) 6-4, 6-1
6. Celine Mende (MER) def. Woods (BAT) 6-2, 6-1
Up Next
The Warriors return to North Andover High School for their regular-season home final against Bentley University at 3 p.m. The Falcons rest right above the Navy and Gold in the NE-10 standings.
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