Salve Regina defeats NCAA-bound Mt. St. Mary
NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University freshman Elizabeth DiFilippo (West Chester, Pa.) rallied for a three-set singles victory at No. 2 to clinch a win for the Seahawks over visiting Mount Saint Mary College in non-league women's tennis action.
"Elizabeth has been playing well all Spring," said Seahawk head coach Ed Habershaw. "It's great to see her efforts get rewarded with a win."
The Seahawks, playing their final match of the season, had to wait nearly two hours before the visitors arrived following several transportation issues. The original bus for the Knights caught fire en route from Newburgh, N.Y., while in Meriden, Conn. Once on the road again, Mount Saint Mary, winners of the Skyline Conference and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championships, followed directions to its Sunday opponent (Johnson & Wales University) at Moses Brown School in Providence.
Once the Knights arrived at the Salve Regina campus, introductions were made including recognition of Salve Regina senior Nichol Stevens (Chester, Conn.). The co-captain paired with freshman Erica Shay (Concord, Mass.) for the first Seahawk point, an 8-0 win at No. 3 doubles.
"Nickie returned to an aggressive style in doubles and finished a lot of points with winners at the net," said Habershaw. "Erica was also in a poaching mood."
DiFilippo and her No. 1 doubles partner, Meg Olson (Colchester, Vt.), were defeated by senior Annie Llewellyn (Brookhaven, N.Y.) and junior Gab Murphy-Goldberg (Newburgh, N.Y.), 8-3.
Salve Regina's No. 2 doubles pair, co-captain Ana Gwozdz (Taunton, Mass.) and her sophomore classmate Elizabeth Liguori (Westerly, R.I.), won 8-5 with the final point on a Liguori ace.
In singles action, Shay finished first with a 6-2,6-2 decision at No. 6. Murphy-Goldberg triumphed over Stevens in two tight sets - 6-3,6-4 - at No. 1, making the overall score, 3-2 in favor of Salve Regina.
Junior Karlee Walther (Natick, Mass.) enjoyed a straight-set victory at No. 4 singles (6-4,6-1). A short time later, Llewellyn capped a 7-6(4),6-3 win over Gwozdz at No. 3 singles. Salve Regina (9-8) now led 4-3, but both remaining matches were in a third set.
DiFilippo, who dropped her first set at No. 2 (7-5), won the last five games of the second set (6-2) to force a third. Meanwhile, Liguori split her first two sets with Jill Saydlowski (Milford, Conn.), 7-5 and 2-6.
Both Seahawks built a 4-1 lead in their respective final sets. DiFilippo started earlier and finished earlier than Liguori, while both ended their third set with a 6-2 score.
"Liz Liguori had to exercise tremendous patience against the great defense of Saydlowski at No. 5 singles," said Habershaw. "So many games Liz was building a 30-love lead but so many games were going to deuce as well. Liz mixed in a lot of her offense along with steady baseline play."
The Seahawks host an their Ladies' Choice Doubles Tournament to cap off their playing schedule next Saturday. The next day (April 29) they will host the ninth annual Megs™ Doubles clinic in honor of former Seahawk Meghan E. Strathman '03.
Mount Saint Mary (13-3) plays against the Wildcats tomorrow before awaiting the bid to the NCAA tournament.
Tennis Match Results
Mt. St. Mary (NY) vs Salve Regina
04/21/12 at Newport, R.I.
(Leroy Avenue courts)
Salve Regina 6, Mt. St. Mary (NY) 3
Singles competition
1. Gab Murphy-Goldberg (MSMC-W) def. Nichol Stevens (SRU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Elizabeth DiFilippo (SRU) def. Jaimee Lubniewski (MSMC-W) 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
3. Annie Llewellyn (MSMC-W) def. Ana Gwozdz (SRU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
4. Karlee Walther (SRU) def. Alissa Niad (MSMC-W) 6-4, 6-1
5. Elizabeth Liguori (SRU) def. Jill Saydlowski (MSMC-W) 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
6. Erica Shay (SRU) def. Jillian Torre (MSMC-W) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Annie Llewellyn/Gab Murphy-Goldberg (MSMC-W) def. Elizabeth DiFilippo/Meg Olson (SRU) 8-3
2. Ana Gwozdz/Elizabeth Liguori (SRU) def. Jaimee Lubniewski/Jill Saydlowski (MSMC-W) 8-5
3. Erica Shay/Nichol Stevens (SRU) def. Jackie Ivan/Jillian Torre (MSMC-W) 8-0
Match Notes:
Mt. St. Mary (NY) 13-3
Salve Regina 9-8
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,1,4,3,2,5)
Official: self-officiated T-3:12 A-65
