PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Megan Marshall (Dartmouth, Mass.) won twice to help head coach
Kathy Peverly earn her first career win as the Plymouth State University women's tennis team knocked off Salem State University, 7-2, in the season opener at the Holderness School Courts on Saturday afternoon.
Marshall and classmate
Kira Winter (Kittery, Maine) cruised to an 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles, and Marshall outlasted her opponent at No. 1 singles, taking a first set tie breaker 7-6 (7-4), before cruising to a 6-0 win in set two.
Peverly, who took over the program following the retirement of longtime head coach
Barbara Rawlsky-Willett late last spring, earned the win in her debut.
Plymouth State starts the season on the right foot, picking up an important Little East Conference (LEC) victory to go to 1-0 (1-0 LEC), while Salem State slips to 0-2 and 0-1 in conference play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 7, Salem State 2
- Plymouth State (1-0, 1-0 LEC)
- Salem State (0-2, 0-1 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Marshall and Winter controlled the tempo to take No. 1 doubles by an 8-2 margin, while sophomore Elena Cardoso (Hudson, Mass.) and freshman Alyssa Craigie (Gilford, N.H.) held on for an 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles.
- The Vikings picked up a point at No. 2 doubles.
- Marshall was tested in the opening set at No. 1 singles, earning a 7-4 win in the tiebreaker to take set one, 7-6. She dominated the second set, though, not dropping a game to win 6-0.
- Salem State took the win at No. 2 singles, but junior Sarah Asciutto (Manchester, Vt.) earned a convincing win at No. 3 by a 6-3, 6-2 score.
- Craigie coasted to a straight sets victory at No. 4 singles (6-3, 6-0) in her collegiate debut and Cardoso battled for a 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 5.
- Senior Alyssa Bettencourt (West Brookfield, Mass.) accounted for the final score with a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 6 singles.
By the Numbers:
- Plymouth State improves to 25-7 against the Vikings, dating back to the 1993 season.
- The Panthers have won each of the last 12 matches between the two teams.
- PSU has won its last 13 season openers.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State heads to NCAA Division II Saint Anselm on Thursday (Sept. 15) for a non-conference clash with the Hawks at 4:00 p.m.
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