Panthers back to .500 with second straight sweep

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Plymouth State University women's tennis team got its record back to the .500 mark Saturday afternoon with an easy 9-0 victory over Western Connecticut State University in a Little East Conference match at the PE Center Courts.

            The Panthers, who swept Lyndon State College on Thursday by the same score, even their mark at 4-4 overall and 2-2 in LEC matches.  WestConn slipped to 1-2 overall and 0-3 in conference play.

            All six Panther starters were double-winners on the day.  Senior Sara Burke (Barrington, R.I.) and junior Molly Heartfield (Dorset, Vt.) teamed up for an 8-0 triumph at No. 1 doubles, and then cruised to straight-set victories at No. 1 and No. 2 singles.  Burke and Heartfield both have 5-3 singles records this season, and they are 5-2 as a doubles team.

            The freshman tandem of Nitsa Ioannides (El Cajon, Calif.) and Andra Dion (Ashland, N.H.) won the No. 2 doubles match and were straight-set winners at Nos. 3 and 4 singles, respectively.  Ioannides has a team-best 6-1 record in singles, and the Panther duo is 4-3 in doubles.  Juniors Jane Duggan (Saunderstown, R.I.) and Chelsea Thibeault (Manchester, N.H./Central) teamed up for a win at No. 3 doubles before registering victories at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively.

            Both teams are back in action Wednesday with LEC match, the Panthers traveling to Salem State and WestConn hosting UMass Boston. 

-- 30 --