NEW LONDON, Mass. – The quest for a third consecutive Commonwealth Coast Conference championship came to an end Thursday evening, as the Roger Williams University Women's Tennis team lost 6-3 to Colby-Sawyer College in the TCCC Semifinals.

The Hawks were coming off back-to-back conference titles in 2006 and 2007 and looking to defend their championship for the third straight year. After clinching last year's tournament as the top seed, this season the Hawks found themselves as the fifth seed and edged past #4 Nichols College 5-4 to advance to the semifinals.

Colby-Sawyer came into the TCCC Tournament undefeated in conference play at 10-0 with a perfect 16-0 overall record, clinching the #1 seed.

The Hawks got two of their wins in doubles play. Leah Ribchinsky (Ivoryton, Conn.) and Katelin Richard (West Islip, N.Y.) defeated Brittany Mailman and Mary Francis 8-5 in #2 doubles, while Amanda Wolfe (Mansfield, Mass.) and Kristin Dono (West Boylston, Mass.) won their #3 match 8-5 over Lauren Turenne and Carolyn Drake.

In singles play, the Chargers held their ground, winning five of the six matches. However, two of the matches in particular were hard-fought victories for Colby-Sawyer, where a loss could have swung the momentum in favor of Roger Williams.

Turenne slipped past Caitlin Osepchuk (Ocean Grove, N.J.) by a 6-3, 3-6, 10-8 margin in the fourth flight. The fifth flight saw Mailman pull out the 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) win over Richard. RWU was only able to muster one win in singles play, as Jill Mackey (Reading, Conn.) pulled out a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Drake in the sixth flight.

Roger Williams finishes its fall season with a record of 7-7 and 6-4 in the TCCC. Colby-Sawyer (17-0, 10-0 TCCC) advances to the TCCC Championship where the Chargers will face the winner of the #2 Endicott/#6 Western New England semifinal match.

Tennis Match Results

Roger Williams vs Colby-Sawyer

10/23/08 at New London, N.H.

Colby-Sawyer 6, Roger Williams 3

Singles competition:

1. Mary Francis (CSC) def. Leah Ribchinsky (RWU) 6-2, 6-3

2. Jen LaChance (CSC) def. Lily Osowski (RWU) 7-5, 6-0

3. Hannah White (CSC) def. Amanda Wolfe (RWU) 6-2, 6-3

4. Lauren Turenne (CSC) def. Caitlin Osepchuk (RWU) 6-3, 3-6, 10-8

5. Brittany Mailman (CSC) def. Katelin Richard (RWU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)

6. Jill Mackey (RWU) def. Carolyn Drake (CSC) 7-5, 7-5

Doubles competition:

1. Jen LaChance/Hannah White (CSC) def. Caitlin Osepchuk/Lily Osowski (RWU) 8-4

2. Leah Ribchinsky/Katelin Richard (RWU) def. Brittany Mailman/Mary Francis (CSC) 8-5

3. Amanda Wolfe/Kristin Dono (RWU) def. Lauren Turenne/Carolyn Drake (CSC) 8-5

Match Notes:

Roger Williams 7-7

Colby-Sawyer 17-0

TCCC Semifinal

T-3:15  A-20