Thibeault, Lund lead Panthers to Little East victory

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Plymouth State University women's tennis team rallied from behind Saturday afternoon to capture its season opener with 5-4 triumph over the University of Southern Maine in the Little East Conference debut at the P.E. Center Courts.

            The visiting Huskies took two of the three doubles matches, winning a tiebreaker at third doubles.  PSU came from behind with victories at Nos. 2, 4, 5, and 6 singles to claim the team victory.  PSU opens the season with a 1-0 record while USM is now 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the LEC.

            Senior Chelsea Thibeault (Manchester, N.H./Central) and freshman Nikki Lund (Hingham, Mass.) were each double winners for PSU, including an 8-2 victory together at No. 2 doubles.  Thibeault pulled out a 6-2, 7-5 victory at No. 5 singles to clinch the team victory, rallying from a 4-1 deficit in the second set, while Lund won in straight sets (6-0, 6-0) at No. 4 singles.

            Sophomore Nitsa Ioannides (El Cajon, Calif./Valhalla) was also a winner for PSU in straight sets at No. 2 singles, and freshman Rachel Gustafson (Belchertown, Mass.) took her match at No. 6 singles, 6-4, 6-2.

            Senior Mary Moran (Windham, Maine) led the Huskies with a pair of wins, taking the No. 1 singles match in straight sets and teaming with classmate Emily Boutin (Old Town, Maine) for a victory at No. 1 doubles. Sophomore Courtney Aldrich (Lewiston, Maine) won her match at No. 3 singles, and senior Christine Savage (Caribou, Maine) and freshman Liz Martin (Naugatuck, Conn.) took their match at No. 3 doubles.

            PSU is back in action Wednesday with an afternoon match at Colby-Sawyer College, while USM hosts Rhode Island College in an LEC match next Saturday.

-- 30 --