Norton, Mass. - April 23, 2022 - The Springfield College women's tennis team featured five double-winners in a 9-0 dual match victory over host Wheaton College this afternoon in a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference match at the Clark Tennis Courts. The Pride improve to 11-5-1 overall and 4-3 in league play, while the Lyons fall to 5-11 and 2-4.
Springfield swept all three doubles matches, but it wasn't easy, as all three contests were decided in tie-breakers. The Pride won all three matches by scores of 8-7. Junior Gabriella Heaney-Secord (Westwood, Mass.) joined with first year Taylor Suozzo (Bedford, N.H.) for a victory at number one over the Wheaton duo of senior Miriam Galindo Cerrada (Madrid, Spain) and sophomore Mareike Mueller (Amesbury, Mass.). Senior Rielly Malz (South Glastonbury, Conn.) combined with first year Ramida Manataweewat (Thailand, Bangkok) for the win at second doubles over the Lyon pairing of senior Alexis Acosta (Albuquerque, N.M.) and classmate Katie Steinberg (Cumberland, Maine). Sophomore Kate Rosselli (Trumbull, Conn.) and first year Jorja Mederick (Gros-Islet, Saint Lucia) combined for a triumph at third doubles over Wheaton senior Jessica Love (Toronto, Ont.) and first year Izzy Kruse (Woodstock, Ga.).
Following a formidable challenge in doubles play, the Pride picked up two quick points to win the match with impressive efforts at fourth and sixth singles. Mederick dropped just one game in a 6-0, 6-1 win over Love at sixth singles, before Malz clinched the match for Springfield with a 6-0, 6-0 straight set win over Mueller at number four.
Manataweewat cruised at third singles for the Pride with a 6-3, 6-0 showing against Steinberg and Suozzo fought to a 6-3, 6-2 win at fifth singles over Kruse.
Springfield had its hands full at the top two singles spots. Junior Veronica Fulgieri (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) battled to a 7-5 first set win over Acosta at second singles, before taking the second frame, 6-1. Heaney-Secord grinded out a 7-5 victory for the Pride in the opening set at number one singles against Galindo Cerrada and eeked out a 7-6 (4) decision in the second set for the win.
Springfield returns to action on Tuesday, April 26 when it hosts NEWMAC foe Mount Holyoke College at 4:00 p.m
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