Panthers take winning streak into LEC Tourney

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Plymouth State University women's tennis team wrapped up the regular season on a winning note Saturday afternoon, defeating the University of Massachusetts Boston, 8-1, in a Little East Conference match at the P.E. Center Courts.

            The Panthers captured their third straight match to improve to 9-4 overall and 5-3 in conference play.  The win total ties the program standard for victories in a season, matching the 1986 (9-2) and 1990 (9-3) teams.  PSU also finishes in a three-way tie for third place in the LEC with a 5-3 conference record.  UMD winds up at 6-8 overall and 3-5 in the Little East.

            Junior Sara Burke was a double winner again to lead the Panthers.  She captured a victory at No. 1 singles to improve her record to 9-4 overall and 7-1 against conference opponents.  Burke also joined forces with sophomore Molly Heartfield for an 8-6 victory at No. 1 doubles.

            Heartfield, senior Lydia Smith and junior Elizabeth Silsby were also double-winners for the Panthers. After helping PSU sweep the doubles matches, Smith won in straight sets at No. 2 singles, Heartfield did the same at No. 3, and Silsby won a third-set super-breaker at No. 4.  Sophomore Cheyenne Lessard was also a winner at No. 6 singles, and senior Megan Cooper and sophomore Jane Duggan collected victories in doubles.

            Junior Hieu Nguyen picked up the only victory for the Beacons, winning a third-set super-breaker at No. 5 singles.

            The Little East Conference Tournament begins with first-round matches on Tuesday.  Pairings will be announced by the conference office later this weekend after the tiebreaker situation is clarified. 

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