CASTLETON, Vt. – Behind another strong performance from the entire lineup, Plymouth State University wrapped up the regular season with a 9-0 win over Castleton University in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's tennis match at the Castleton Tennis Courts on Saturday.
 
The Panthers' biggest challenge of the day came at No. 5 singles, but sophomore Alyssa Bettencourt (West Brookfield, Mass.) rallied after dropping the opening set to win 7-6 (7-4) before taking the super tie breaker by a 10-6 score.
 
PSU finishes the regular season with a 6-2 mark (6-2 LEC). The Panthers went the entire season without surrendering a team point in any of its victories, a feat believed to be accomplished for the first time in program history (at least as far back as 1987). Castleton goes to 1-6 overall and 1-6 in league play.
 
The two teams meet again in five days as the second-seeded Panthers host the third-seeded Spartans for the semifinal round of the LEC Women's Tennis Championship on Thursday (May 6) at 3:30 p.m.
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 9, Castleton 0
  • Plymouth State (6-2, 6-2 LEC)
  • Castleton (1-6, 1-6 LEC)

How it Happened:

• Plymouth State jumped out to a 3-0 lead after sweeping doubles action. Senior Maggie McCarthy (Marion, Mass.) and sophomore Kira Winter (Eliot, Maine) cruised to victory at No. 1 by an 8-0 score, while sophomore Megan Marshall (Dartmouth, Mass.) and freshman Camilla Puzio (Holden, Mass.) held off their challengers at No. 2 doubles, 8-4.
• Junior Julie Miller (Woburn, Mass.) teamed up with classmate Brie Hada (Alton, N.H.) for an 8-2 victory at No. 3.
• McCarthy (6-1, 6-2) and Winter (6-0, 6-1) posted straight sets wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively.
• Seniors Kerstin Venincasa (Sutton, Mass.) and Jenna Sundquist (Monument Beach, Mass.) did the same at No. 3 and No. 4. Venincasa posted a 6-2, 6-0 win, while Sundquist flew through her match without dropping a game (6-0, 6-0).
• Bettencourt dropped her opening set, 6-1, but rebounded for a thrilling 7-6 (7-4) win in set two to force a third-set super tie breaker where she held on for a 10-6 win.
• Freshman Sarah Asciutto (Manchester, Vt.) wrapped up the sweep with a dominating 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 6 singles.

By the Numbers:

• The Panthers have won six straight against Castleton and 10-of-11.
• PSU hasn't surrendered a point to the Spartans in each of the last four meetings.

Up Next:

• Second-seeded Plymouth State hosts third-seeded Castleton in the semifinals of the LEC Tournament on Thursday (May 6) with first serve slated for 3:30 p.m.