Women’s Tennis Honors Seniors, Tops New Haven, 5-2, Indoors Saturday Night

Links: Box Score

MIDDLETON, Mass. – The Merrimack College women's tennis program preceded Saturday's regular season home finale by honoring its three graduating seniors, Lauren Persson, Mana Seifaei and Meredith Wedro, on Senior Day. In the Northeast-10 Conference tilt that followed, the Warriors defeated the University of New Haven, 5-2, at the Northeast Tennis Center in Middleton, Mass. With the win, Merrimack guaranteed a top-four finish in the NE10, with the conference tournament beginning in two weeks.

The Basics
Score: Merrimack 5, New Haven 2
Records: Merrimack (9-5, 8-2 NE10) | New Haven (7-3, 6-3 NE10)
Location: North Andover, Mass. | North Andover High School

NE10 Postseason Outlook
The top-six programs in the NE10 standings at the end of the season will advance to the NE10 Championship. The opening round of the tournament is set for Wednesday, Oct. 24, with seeds No. 3-4 hosting No. 5-6. The first- and second-place teams will get at bye to the semifinals (Oct. 26). The finals are scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 28. Merrimack has already clinched a spot in the NE10 Championship.

1) Stonehill (8-1, 8-0)
2) Merrimack (9-5, 8-2)
3) Adelphi (8-2, 7-2)
4) Le Moyne (8-4, 7-3)
5) Assumption (8-3, 7-3)
6) New Haven (7-2, 6-2 NE10)
7) SNHU (6-6, 5-4)
8) Saint Anselm (5-9, 4-6)
9) Saint Michael's (5-10, 3-8)
10) Franklin Pierce (2-11, 2-8)
11) Bentley (1-9, 0-9)
12) AIC (0-11, 0-10)

Results
Doubles

1. Stephanie Gonzalez/Laura Fermosel (UNH) def. Mana Seifaei/Rosemary Campanella (MER) 6-4

2. Kristina Calistro/Cassie Restrepo (MER) def. Lilia Rodriguez/Nicole Mika (UNH) 6-2

3. Lauren Persson/Mia Briggs (MER) def. Shelby Clyne/Angela Mercurio (UNH) 6-2

Singles

1. Laura Fermosel (UNH) def. Mana Seifaei (MER) 6-2, 6-1

2. Stephanie Gonzalez (UNH) def. Lauren Persson (MER) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2

3. Cassie Restrepo (MER) def. Lilia Rodriguez (UNH) 6-4, 6-4

4. Rosemary Campanella (MER) def. Nicole Mika (UNH) 6-4, 6-4

5. Kristina Calistro (MER) def. Shelby Clyne (UNH) 6-0, 6-2

6. Hope Salts (MER) def. Caitlyn Burridge (UNH) 6-1, 7-5

 
Rapid Recap

• Merrimack won at second and third doubles to take an early lead. Sophomore Cassie Restrepo and freshman Kristina Calistro won by a 6-2 margin at second doubles, which was then mirrored at the third flight by senior Lauren Persson and junior Mia Briggs
• In singles play, Merrimack's depth proved too much for the Chargers to handle. At the fifth flight, Calistro dropped just two total games in a dominant win (6-0, 6-2). Classmate Hope Salts won at sixth singles, dispatching her opposition easily in the first frame (6-1) before outlasting New Haven's Caitlyn Burridge in the second, 7-5
• Restrepo and freshman Rosemary Campanella joined forces to win straight-set tilts at third and fourth singles, 6-4 and 6-4, respectively
• Persson won one set at second singles, while Seifaei took the court at first doubles and first singles

Up Next
The Warriors wrap up the regular season on Wednesday afternoon when Merrimack takes on Saint Anselm at 3 p.m. up in Manchester, N.H.