PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Julie Miller (Woburn, Mass.) and freshman
Tessa LaBarre (North Smithfield, R.I.) each forced a third set in singles play, but NCAA Division II Saint Anselm College was too strong for Plymouth State University, topping the Panthers 9-0 in a non-conference women's tennis match at the Holderness School Courts on Thursday afternoon.
Miller earned a thrilling first set victory, 7-6, but dropped the next two, while LaBarre rebounded from an opening set loss for a 6-4 win in the second set before succumbing 10-7 in a third set tiebreaker.
Plymouth State drops its first match of the year to move to 2-1, while the Hawks improve to 1-3.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 0, St. Anselm 9
- Plymouth State (2-1)
- St. Anselm (1-3)
How it Happened:
- Sophomore Sarah Asciutto (Manchester, Vt.) and freshman Elena Cardoso (Hudson, Mass.) fell at No. 3 doubles, 8-2, while juniors Kira Winter (Eliot, Maine) and Megan Marshall (Dartmouth, Mass.) dropped an 8-3 decision at No. 1.
- LaBarre and Miller were unable to gain any momentum at No. 2 doubles, falling 8-0 as the Hawks opened up a 3-0 lead.
- Winter fell in straight sets at No. 1 singles (6-3, 6-1), as Marshall and Asciutto were downed by identical 6-1, 6-1 scores at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.
- Cardoso dropped her opening set at No. 6, 6-2, but put up a fight before ultimately coming up short in a 7-5 decision.
- Miller was able to squeak out a 7-6 win in her first set at No. 5, before falling 6-0, 1-0 (10-4). LaBarre rallied from a 6-1 loss in the first set to rebound with a 6-4 victory. The third set tiebreaker went back-and-forth, but the Hawks were ultimately able to eke out the 10-7 win.
By the Numbers:
- The D-II Hawks have had PSU's number, winning all six meetings between the two teams.
- Plymouth State has gone an impressive 39-13 against Division III opponents over the past five years, but 2-5 against the scholarship-eligible D-II programs.
Up Next:
- PSU returns to Little East Conference (LEC) action on Saturday (Sept. 18) when the Panthers host the University of Massachusetts Boston at 1:00 p.m.
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